India

Two killed in bomb blasts in Bangalore

Article published on the 2008-07-25 Latest update 2008-07-25 15:43 TU

Policemen stand guard at the Madivala bus stand where a woman reportedly died in a bomb blast in Bangalore 25 July 2008.

At least two people have been killed and a dozen wounded after a series of bomb blasts in the Indian city of Bangalore. Bomb disposal teams and forensic experts in the southern city have been put on high alert. India's Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said there were a total of seven blasts within a radius of 10 to 15 kilometres.

"A woman and a man have died and around a dozen others received shrapnel injuries in the blast," Bangalore police commissioner Shankar Bidri told reporters, adding that the total amount of explosive used in the bombs was "equivalent to one or two hand grenades."

"We suspect that timer devices were used in two or three explosive devices, while the others could have been set off using mobile phones," he said.

"We are investigating the blasts. Bomb disposal squads and forensic experts have reached the spot. Bangalore police is on high alert."

Bangalore is home to more than six million people and some 1,500 domestic and foreign firms. Soon after the blasts, IT companies downed their shutters and asked their employees to go home, a representative for the software companies told AFP.

The blast is the first in the city despite the militant attacks that have struck other parts of the country. One person was killed and four wounded in an Islamist attack at a science institute in the city in December 2005.

Intelligence sources said it was too early to say who may have been behind the bomb blasts.