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Terror Targets Mumbai

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[Terror struck Mumbai when three serial blasts rocked crowded areas in Zaveri Bazar, Dadar and the Opera House on Wednesday evening leaving at least 50 people injured in a grim reminder of 26/11 when 166 people were killed. In New Delhi, the Union Home Ministry said the multiple explosions were a terror strike and that Improvised Explosive Devices(IED) were used. According to govenment sources, 18 people were dead and 131 injured. Police said the nature and intensity of the explosions were not known but the blasts revived memories of the terror attack in November 2008 in which 166 persons were killed by 10 gunmen of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba(LeT). Police said all the blasts took place in a crowded markets and busy areas. The first explosion took place in south Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar, near famous Mumbadevi temple, this evening in which some people were injured, said Mumbai Police spokesperson Nisar Tamboli. The bustling market also has a number of jewellery shops. The second explosion was reported in a taxi in Dadar area, he said. The site of the explosion was close to dadar railway station. "We are verifying the nature of explosions. At this moment I cannot say anything more than this," Tamboli said. The third blast was reported from Opera House in Charni. Teams of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) have rushed to the spots. Maharashtra PwD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "Can confirm blasts in three locations. Can not say how many people injured or killed. Impossible to say anything about it right now. Trying to gather information." The blasts came on the birthday of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed nearly 170 people. They hit the city around 1900 local time (1330 GMT). The city has been put on a state of high alert. The authorities have not yet said who they believe might be behind the explosions and no group has said it carried them out. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan shortly after the serial blasts shook Mumbai. NSG perssonnel and forensic experts were rushed to the western metropolis in a BSF plane from Delhi. Today's explosions came two days after the fifth anniversary of the Mumbai serial train blasts in which 186 persons were killed. The explosion in Zaveri Bazaar occured in an electric pole in a crowded area. Zaveri Bazar area has been constantly targeted in the blasts and 54 people were killed during the explosions in 2003. High alert has been sounded in the national capital and other parts of the country. (PTI)