TERRORISM REVISITED Delhi on Friday evening, in less than six months of the serial blasts last year. This time, the target was the historic Jama Masjid, where around 1,000 people had gathered for evening prayers. Two bombs went off in quick succession in the main courtyard of the mosque, near the "hauz", where worshippers do "wazu" (the ritual of cleansing the body). At least 12 people were injured, the condition of one of whom was stated to be critical.
The first blast took place around 5.25 p.m. and the second one followed barely two feet away within ten minutes -- even as the initial shock was yet to sink in.
Most of the damage was done by the first explosion as dozens were present at the spot. The explosions led to panic as people ran for cover. Police said the damage would have been worse had the bombs gone off during or immediately after the "jumme ki namaaz (in the afternoon)", when the entire courtyard is packed to capacity. Most had just finished with "asar", the third namaaz of the day, and some were performing wazu, when the first bomb went off. The spot of the first blast gave a gory picture. Blood was seen splattered on the floor and shoes and sandals were lying nearby. Bloodstains of a victim could be seen up to a few metres from the spot. Police said the bombs were low-intensity crude devices, possibly made up of ammonium chloride, and packed with shrapnel like iron nails and nut and bolt. One of the bombs, the police suspect, had been kept in a box wrapped in a polythene sheet.
"No signs of plastic explosives have been found. The Delhi Police forensic team and the NSG examined the spot. The blasts did not leave any crater but both were loud. Iron nails have been recovered from the spot. The injured too have suffered splinter and shrapnel injuries," a senior police officer said. The courtyard has three main entrances and the bombers could have got in through any of them. As people are not frisked while entering, a number of polythene and other bags were found kept near the hauz.
{{/usCountry}}"No signs of plastic explosives have been found. The Delhi Police forensic team and the NSG examined the spot. The blasts did not leave any crater but both were loud. Iron nails have been recovered from the spot. The injured too have suffered splinter and shrapnel injuries," a senior police officer said. The courtyard has three main entrances and the bombers could have got in through any of them. As people are not frisked while entering, a number of polythene and other bags were found kept near the hauz.
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