Kerala is on high alert after a blast at a convention centre in Kochi's Kalamassery killed a woman and injured at least 52 people, including children, on Sunday morning. Kerala Police teams and security agencies have conducted searches in public places including airports, bus and train stations in the afternoon.
Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination, was holding a prayer meeting at Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Kalamassery when an improvised explosion device detonated around 9.40am.
Kerala DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb confirmed that it was an blast caused by an IED. He also issued warning against spread of fake news and hate speech on social media.
#WATCH | Kerala DGP Dr Shaik Darvesh Saheb says "Today morning at 9:40 am approximately there was an explosion at Zamra International Convention & Exhibition Centre in which one person died and 36 persons are undergoing treatment. In the convention centre, Jehovah’s Witnesses… pic.twitter.com/BoK4gBPT5x
— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023
"All our senior officers are at the spot. We are conducting a thorough investigation, we will find out who is behind this and take strict action," he added. Police later revealed that the IED was installed in a tiffin box
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Kerala Chief Minister regarding the blast. The Kochi Unit of the National Investigations Agency and teams of National Security Guards (NSG) bomb squad were dispatched to the scene to assist the state government.
"The home minister spoke to the Kerala chief minister to take stock of the situation after the blast. The chief minister briefed the home minister about the incident," a source told PTI.
Local media, including Onmanaroma, quoted police sources as saying that they are probing the terror angle.
CM Vijayan, while speaking to media, said, "It's a very unfortunate incident. We are collecting details regarding the incident. All top officials in Ernakulam are there. DGP is moving to the spot. We are taking it very seriously. I have spoken to the DGP. We will get more details only after the investigation."
Two of the injured, including a child, suffered above 50 per cent burns in the blast. Around 2,000 people were reportedly at the hall when the IED exploded.
