Delhi HC explosion: Terror or accident?

No casualties, explosion occurred in the parking lot outside high court’s Gate No 7

In New Delhi Alow-intensity blast occurred in a parking lot outside the Delhi High Court around 1.15 pm on Wednesday. Security agencies said that the explosive was kept in a plastic bag near a Ford Figo car, belonging to Delhi HC lawyer Rajiv Jain. No casualties were reported after the explosion.

Till late evening, sources from the Delhi police said that at this stage it's difficult to pinpoint if the blast was the handiwork of an individual or a terrorist group.

“There are no tell-tale signs or footprints to link this event to any group. It could simply be the act of an individual who might be aiming to disrupt court proceedings, considering high-profile cases such as the 2G bail hearing is going on,” said security analyst Ajay Sahni.

The Home Ministry simply refused to comment on the incident and directed all questions of breach of security to the Delhi Police.

The Delhi police maintained that there was no breach of security as the explosion happened outside the court premises Gate number 7 of the parking lot.

Eyewitnesses claim there was a package near the spot that had smoke emanating out of it. Some eyewitnesses claimed that there were nails in the explosive bags.

“It was a small blast. The explosion took place in a small plastic bag that was kept near the car's bonnet,” said Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Dharmendra Kumar.

He added that the type of explosive is unknown and the samples have been sent for forensic examination.

High Alert across Delhi

Soon after the blast, Delhi Police sounded a high alert across the capital. “We have given a security alert across the city, particularly to all the markets and crowded areas. Security has been beefed up in crowded places and extra personnel have been deployed,” Kumar said.
(With Agency Inputs)

Blast investigation

» The low-intensity blast occurred in the parking lot around 1.15 pm

» The explosive was kept in a plastic bag near a Ford Figo car

» No casualties were reported after the explosion

» Eyewitnesses claim there were shrapnel in the explosive bag, however police say otherwise

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