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Blasts rock Bangladesh stations | Blasts rock Bangladesh stations |
(about 1 hour later) | |
There have been simultaneous bomb attacks at three railway stations in Bangladesh, officials say. | There have been simultaneous bomb attacks at three railway stations in Bangladesh, officials say. |
The blasts caused panic among commuters and the railway terminals were evacuated. One man was injured. | The blasts caused panic among commuters and the railway terminals were evacuated. One man was injured. |
The explosions went off at stations in capital Dhaka, the northern city of Sylhet and the south-eastern port town of Chittagong. | The explosions went off at stations in capital Dhaka, the northern city of Sylhet and the south-eastern port town of Chittagong. |
Messages left at two of the sites in Bengali and English said the attacks were carried out by "the new al-Qaeda". | Messages left at two of the sites in Bengali and English said the attacks were carried out by "the new al-Qaeda". |
'Prepare for death' | |
"We are investigating whether it is a new group," national police chief Nur Mohammad said, the AFP news agency reports. | "We are investigating whether it is a new group," national police chief Nur Mohammad said, the AFP news agency reports. |
The bombs were in cotton bags. The one casualty, at Chittagong station, was a rickshaw driver who was hit as he tried to open the bag, police said. | The bombs were in cotton bags. The one casualty, at Chittagong station, was a rickshaw driver who was hit as he tried to open the bag, police said. |
Police say the messages were left on thin metal plates. They contained warnings against non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and also against Bangladesh's minority Muslim Ahmadiyya sect. | |
Correspondents say that hardline Islamic groups in Muslim-majority Bangladesh oppose the activities of NGOs, which are often funded by Western donors and employ women. | |
"Stop associating with non-believers. Stop working for NGOs by 10 May or prepare for death," said the etched messages signed by Jadid (New) al-Qaeda Bangladesh, a hitherto unknown group. | |
Islamic practises | |
The bombs went off at the start of a two-day public holiday and caused chaos and panic in all three railway stations - which were more crowded than usual as people travelled to see friends and relatives. | |
The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says that the authorities are investigating whether Jadid al-Qaeda is a new group, or a manifestation of a hardline group that already exists. | |
Security has been tightened since the blasts | |
The bombs themselves have been described as crude devices. The remains of charred packaging wrapped in black tape - with a pencil battery and a small clock attached - were found at the site of the Dhaka blast. | |
In recent years, Bangladesh has seen violence by militants wanting to establish strict Islamic practices in the country. | In recent years, Bangladesh has seen violence by militants wanting to establish strict Islamic practices in the country. |
In August 2005, more than 300 explosive devices were set off almost simultaneously in 50 cities and towns across Bangladesh. | In August 2005, more than 300 explosive devices were set off almost simultaneously in 50 cities and towns across Bangladesh. |
An outlawed Islamic group, Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), said it carried out those attacks. | |
While the JMB has attacked NGOs and the Ahmadiyyas in the past, there is so far no concrete evidence linking it to Tuesday's blasts. | |
Ahmadiyyas do not believe that Mohammad was the last prophet and the JMB has demanded in the past that the government declare them as "non-Muslims". | Ahmadiyyas do not believe that Mohammad was the last prophet and the JMB has demanded in the past that the government declare them as "non-Muslims". |