NEW DELHI: At least 30 people were killed and more than 90 injured as five low-intensity bombs ripped through crowded, popular market areas across Delhi on Saturday evening. The blasts took place in Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash-I and Barakhamba Road in a span of 25 minutes. More bombs were defused at India Gate, Regal cinema, Central Park in Connaught Place and Parliament Street. Red alert was sounded in the Capital after the serial blasts.
An e-mail from terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the blasts. Mumbai anti-terror squad confirmed Mumbai as origin of threat mail. The Indian Mujahideen, which has also claimed responsibility for the serial terror blasts in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Jaipur, which killed at least 130 people in a span of four months, has now threatened to carry out attacks in India's financial capital - Mumbai.
Accusing Mumbai Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad of harassing Muslims, the Indian Mujahideen, believed to be a front strike unit of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), said in its email that it was closely watching the ATS. In Delhi, the first explosion rocked Gaffar market area of Karol Bagh in central Delhi at 6.10pm. The explosive was kept near a car. The impact of the blast was so severe that an auto was thrown up several feet. This was followed by blasts in dustbins in the Connaught Place area.
At Barakhamba Road, one of the bombs was suspected to be placed near Nirmal tower. The second blast occurred near Gopal Das tower. Both the buildings house private offices and banks. Another blast reportedly took place in the Central Park. Two blasts shook posh M-Block market in Greater Kailash-I. Ten shops were damaged in the explosion that took place at around 6:40pm. Here too, the bombs were hidden in a dustbin.
Preliminary examination of the blast sites showed that ammonium nitrate tied to integrated circuit was used in almost all the blasts. Timer devices were used to detonate the bombs. Ammonium nitrate and iron balls found in defused bombs. According to sources, Intelligence Bureau had warned of more attacks in Indian cities. Warnings had been issued to major cities because after the Ahmedabad arrests, retaliatory attack were expected.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has announced that the Centre would give Rs one lakh as compensation to the families of those killed. Delhi government too announced Rs five lakh as compensation for the family of the dead, and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the blasts.
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