New Delhi: The low intensity blast at a convention centre in Kalamassery area of Kochi in Kerala Sunday targeting a congregation of Christians was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion and traces of ammonium nitrate, timer and battery have been found, ThePrint has learnt.
The explosion left one dead and two others seriously injured. Over 20 others were taken for immediate treatment.
The incident is being seen as a terror attack after the bomb disposal squad of the National Security Guards (NSG) found remains of a bomb. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also reaching the spot.
Speaking to the media later, Kerala DGP Dr Shaik Darvesh Saheb said, “Preliminary investigation shows it is an IED device and we are investigating it.”
Sources said that the low intensity blast set flammable material in the hall on fire and most injuries were that of 50 percent or less burns.
Investigators are probing multiple angles into the incident. Asked why a Christian congregation was attacked, sources in the security establishment said that Kochi is historically a Jewish hub and the Jehovah Witness congregation may have been mistaken to be that of Jewish people or the attack could itself have been targeted on the congregation.
They said the area has seen multiple pro-Palestine rallies lately, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict and also pointed to a Friday address by a Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, virtually at a rally organised by Solidarity Youth Movement in Malappuram.
The Solidarity Youth Movement is the youth wing of banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
Sources said that there is a high anti-Israel and pro-Palestine sentiment that has been roused due to these rallies and addresses.
The investigators are also probing the possible role of the Popular Front of India (PFI), which has been banned by the central government.
Investigators are tracking the CCTV footage inside the hall and outside while also speaking to people inside to understand the sequence of events and who placed the IED.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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