Militants claim responsibility for New Delhi bombing
Harkat Al Jihad Islami claim responsibility for New Delhi attack which killed 11
New Delhi: India is investigating an email allegedly sent by the outlawed South Asian militant group Harkat Al Jihad Islami (HUJI) claiming responsibility for a bomb attack in New Delhi, which killed at least 11 people on Wednesday, said a senior Indian security official.
At least 66 were injured.
National Investigation Agency chief S.C. Sinha told reporters he was taking the contents of the email seriously.
The outlawed HUJI has bases in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The claim of responsibility came as India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on an official visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years.
High intensity
The early morning bomb blast was high intensity and took place outside Gate No. 5 where entry passes for the litigants are issued.
According to eye-witnesses most of the dead and injured were standing in the queue to procure entry passes when the blast took place at 10:17 hours local time.
The injured were shifted to government hospitals including the elite Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Safdarjung Hospital.
Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
Experts from Delhi Police, National Security Guard (NSG) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the blast site to do initial investigation.
NSG Director General Rajen Medhekar said that ammonium nitrate has been used in the blast.
No responsibility claimed
“Whatever we could gather from the blast investigations is that it is an IED (improvised explosive device) with ammonium nitrate. We are working with the Delhi Police to get details,” said Medhekar.
No terrorist organisation has thus far claimed responsibility for the blast.
This is the second instance of Delhi High Court being targeted.
Earlier on May 25 a low intensity blast had rocked the court complex, which now is being seen as a run up exercise.
Investigators say the explosive was kept inside a briefcase.
- With inputs from agencies
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