Suitcase bomb rips through crowd at Delhi High Court, 11 dead

Added by Gary Dunn on September 7, 2011

A high intensity bomb, placed in a briefcase and left near the entrance of the gates of the Delhi High Court, exploded on Wednesday killing 11 people and injuring 76 at last count.

The bomb exploded at 10:25 am (4:55am UTC/GMT), near the court’s gate number five. Wednesdays are particularly busy since large crowds gather at the court to file PILs (Public Interest Litigations) that are subsequently heard by the High Court. Entrance passes are handed out to the crowds at gate number five.

Two lawyers at the court told reporters that the body scanner and metal detector at the court’s gate five, where the blast occurred, were not working.

Paramedics rushed to attend to the injured and the entire High Court building had been evacuated by the police by 10:45am (5:15am UTC/GMT.

While the Chief Minister, Mrs. Sheila Dixit, said that it is too early to determine the cause behind the blast. A terrorist group from neighboring Bangladesh called Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami-Bangladesh (HuJI-B) has claimed responsibility for the incident. The group, affiliated with al Qaeda and with bases in Pakistan and Bangladesh, is reported to be the largest terrorist organization in Bangladesh focused on converting Bangladesh into an Islamic state.

The group is known to have assisted the Indian Mujahideen (IM) or Islamic warrior group, with money, arms and training. The IM is constantly seeking its help in organizing logistics for its operatives in several terror attacks across India attributed to it for over a decade.

The entire country has been placed on high alert with officials saying that this is the worst terror incident since November 2008 (the month of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks resulting in 164 deaths and 308 people injured).

In a statement, US Charge d’Affaires Peter Burleigh said, “On behalf of all Americans, I extend deep condolences to the government of India and the families of those harmed in this morning’s attacks on the New Delhi High Court.”

People rushed in to help the injured and the dying and hundreds flocked to the hospitals to donate blood and offer assistance.