16 Killed in India Mosque Blast, Protests
- At least 13 people were killed and over 50 injured as a bomb exploded during Friday prayers at a historic mosque in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
The blast at the Makkah Masjid, the main mosque in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state, sparked violent protests in which three protesters died and five were injured in clashes with the police.
Thousands of worshippers were praying at the sprawling 17th century mosque at the time of the blast, which took place at about 1.30pm.
Officials said the death toll could rise and three other crude bombs were defused as crowds, angered by the attack, clashed with police around the mosque.
The Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), M.A. Basit, said a sophisticated bomb, possibly planted near a water tank, was linked to a cell phone. The police have recovered a cell phone and some clues from the scene of the blast.
The DGP said that the forces trying to create communal tension in Hyderabad city were behind the blast. As the bomb exploded with a deafening sound behind the last row of worshippers, throwing bodies and bleeding limbs up in the air, shocked people started running in panic. There were several children among the injured admitted at the Osmania hospital. "As the prayers ended and the imam was starting 'dua', the explosion took place. I received a big jolt," said Abdul Quader, who was close to the spot.
The bodies of the victims were badly mutilated. Broken footwear and blood-splattered clothes were spread all around the site of the blast, telling the story of the impact of the explosion. Metal pieces and other data-x-items were also recovered from the blast scene.
While pointing out that it was for the first time that a cellphone-linked bomb was used in the blast in Hyderabad, DGP Basit refused to speculate on any parallel between this incident and the blasts in Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Malegaon's mosque.
As the news of the blast spread, people took to the streets raising slogans against the police and the government. The mob started pelting stones on the passing vehicles and also targeted the police.
There was an hour-long pitched battle in front of the Mecca Masjid and the entire road leading towards the mosque was littered with stones and sticks. The clashes between the police and the protesters continued for some time. The police could make its way to the mosque and to the scene of the blast only after using tear gas shells and firing in the air.
Clashes also took place between the police and the crowds in Shah Ali Banda, Moghalpura and Khilwat areas in the city and there was heavy baton charge and stone pelting.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said that the explosion in the mosque was caused by a crude bomb. Apart from that, there were two live bombs recovered from the spot and defused, he told reporters after he spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the bomb blast and offered his condolences to relatives of the victims.
Khaleej Times
Thousands of worshippers were praying at the sprawling 17th century mosque at the time of the blast, which took place at about 1.30pm.
Officials said the death toll could rise and three other crude bombs were defused as crowds, angered by the attack, clashed with police around the mosque.
The Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), M.A. Basit, said a sophisticated bomb, possibly planted near a water tank, was linked to a cell phone. The police have recovered a cell phone and some clues from the scene of the blast.
The DGP said that the forces trying to create communal tension in Hyderabad city were behind the blast. As the bomb exploded with a deafening sound behind the last row of worshippers, throwing bodies and bleeding limbs up in the air, shocked people started running in panic. There were several children among the injured admitted at the Osmania hospital. "As the prayers ended and the imam was starting 'dua', the explosion took place. I received a big jolt," said Abdul Quader, who was close to the spot.
The bodies of the victims were badly mutilated. Broken footwear and blood-splattered clothes were spread all around the site of the blast, telling the story of the impact of the explosion. Metal pieces and other data-x-items were also recovered from the blast scene.
While pointing out that it was for the first time that a cellphone-linked bomb was used in the blast in Hyderabad, DGP Basit refused to speculate on any parallel between this incident and the blasts in Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Malegaon's mosque.
As the news of the blast spread, people took to the streets raising slogans against the police and the government. The mob started pelting stones on the passing vehicles and also targeted the police.
There was an hour-long pitched battle in front of the Mecca Masjid and the entire road leading towards the mosque was littered with stones and sticks. The clashes between the police and the protesters continued for some time. The police could make its way to the mosque and to the scene of the blast only after using tear gas shells and firing in the air.
Clashes also took place between the police and the crowds in Shah Ali Banda, Moghalpura and Khilwat areas in the city and there was heavy baton charge and stone pelting.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said that the explosion in the mosque was caused by a crude bomb. Apart from that, there were two live bombs recovered from the spot and defused, he told reporters after he spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the bomb blast and offered his condolences to relatives of the victims.
Khaleej Times
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