Thaindian News

NEW DELHI, INDIA (BNO NEWS) — At least eleven people were killed on Wednesday morning when a powerful explosion struck outside the High Court in the Indian capital of New Delhi, officials said. Others were injured.

The bomb, which was placed inside a suitcase, detonated at around 10:30 a.m. local time, just outside the court’s Gate No. 5, Interior Secretary R.K. Singh told the IANS news agency, adding that around 300 people were waiting outside different gates at the time of the blast.

The powerful blast left a crater at the site. Witnesses stated that several people lost their hands and limbs in the blast, while bodies laid at the scene drenched in blood, IANS reported. Emergency teams arrived and transported an unknown number of injured to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, but police confirmed at least 11 people were killed.

The court’s Gate No. 5, where the suitcase was placed, is also near the India Gate, where passes are issued for the hundreds of litigants, media personnel and other visitors to the court. It is unclear who the exact target was or who was behind the attack.

“Intelligence pertaining to threats emanating from certain groups was shared with Delhi Police in July,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, as quoted by IANS. “Despite Delhi Police remaining on high alert, the tragic incident occurred today.”

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, meanwhile, called on all political parties and all of India’s people to unite and fight against this “long war” against terrorism.

The Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami has already claimed responsibility for the attack by sending out emails to several media outlets. However, it was not immediately known how credible the claim is as some terrorist groups sometimes claim credit for attacks carried out by others.