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| Mumbai blasts: Indian cities on high alert | Mumbai blasts: Indian cities on high alert |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Indian cities are on a state of high alert after three blasts shook the financial capital Mumbai (Bombay), killing 18 people and injuring dozens. | Indian cities are on a state of high alert after three blasts shook the financial capital Mumbai (Bombay), killing 18 people and injuring dozens. |
| Indian PM Manmohan Singh has appealed to the people of Mumbai "to remain calm and show a united face". | Indian PM Manmohan Singh has appealed to the people of Mumbai "to remain calm and show a united face". |
| No group has said it carried out the attacks, which took place in three districts during the evening rush hour. | No group has said it carried out the attacks, which took place in three districts during the evening rush hour. |
| The attacks are the deadliest in India since 2008, when gunmen killed 165 people in a three-day raid in Mumbai. | The attacks are the deadliest in India since 2008, when gunmen killed 165 people in a three-day raid in Mumbai. |
| Pakistani-based militants were blamed for the November 2008 attacks and peace efforts were derailed. The government in Islamabad was quick to condemn the latest bombings. | Pakistani-based militants were blamed for the November 2008 attacks and peace efforts were derailed. The government in Islamabad was quick to condemn the latest bombings. |
| The United Nations also condemned the attack, describing it as "heinous". | The United Nations also condemned the attack, describing it as "heinous". |
| 'All leads followed' | 'All leads followed' |
| The authorities are not saying who they think could be behind the bomb attacks in Mumbai. Home Minister P Chidambaram says all groups hostile to India are being looked at. | The authorities are not saying who they think could be behind the bomb attacks in Mumbai. Home Minister P Chidambaram says all groups hostile to India are being looked at. |
| This obviously includes home-grown militant outfits like the Indian Mujahideen (IM), who have been blamed for a number of blasts in the past. Many security analysts already believe the explosions - possibly caused by improvised bombs - carry the fingerprints of such a group. | This obviously includes home-grown militant outfits like the Indian Mujahideen (IM), who have been blamed for a number of blasts in the past. Many security analysts already believe the explosions - possibly caused by improvised bombs - carry the fingerprints of such a group. |
| The latest attack also raises questions about whether intelligence has again failed Mumbai, a charge Mr Chidambaram denies. He says security measures in the city have been beefed up since the 2008 attacks and local police have foiled a "number of terrorist threats" since then. | The latest attack also raises questions about whether intelligence has again failed Mumbai, a charge Mr Chidambaram denies. He says security measures in the city have been beefed up since the 2008 attacks and local police have foiled a "number of terrorist threats" since then. |
| But the fact that Mumbai seems to be targeted relentlessly by groups is extremely disquieting news for its residents and authorities alike. | But the fact that Mumbai seems to be targeted relentlessly by groups is extremely disquieting news for its residents and authorities alike. |
| India's Home Minister P Chidambaram has said he believes the blasts were "a co-ordinated attack by terrorists", as the explosions occurred within minutes of one another. | India's Home Minister P Chidambaram has said he believes the blasts were "a co-ordinated attack by terrorists", as the explosions occurred within minutes of one another. |
| But he said it was too early to speculate on who might have been behind the attack. | But he said it was too early to speculate on who might have been behind the attack. |
| "All groups that have capacity to carry out such terror attacks are suspect. All angles will be investigated, all leads will be followed," he told reporters. | "All groups that have capacity to carry out such terror attacks are suspect. All angles will be investigated, all leads will be followed," he told reporters. |
| Mr Chidambaram said no intelligence had been received about a coming attack, and suggested that those responsible had "worked in a very clandestine manner - maybe a very small group that has not communicated with each other". | Mr Chidambaram said no intelligence had been received about a coming attack, and suggested that those responsible had "worked in a very clandestine manner - maybe a very small group that has not communicated with each other". |
| All three bombs were reported within a 15-minute period, starting at around 1850 local time (1320 GMT). | All three bombs were reported within a 15-minute period, starting at around 1850 local time (1320 GMT). |
| The biggest explosion occurred at the Opera House business district in the south of the city, in an area known as a hub for diamond traders. | The biggest explosion occurred at the Opera House business district in the south of the city, in an area known as a hub for diamond traders. |
| One witness said he had tried to help by getting the wounded onto motorbikes to take them to hospital. | One witness said he had tried to help by getting the wounded onto motorbikes to take them to hospital. |
| "We came outside, and the area was filled with black smoke. There were bodies lying all over the street, there was lots of blood... We saw many bodies missing arms and missing legs," Aagam Doshi told Reuters news agency. | "We came outside, and the area was filled with black smoke. There were bodies lying all over the street, there was lots of blood... We saw many bodies missing arms and missing legs," Aagam Doshi told Reuters news agency. |
| Another blast, described by the authorities as low intensity, hit the Zaveri Bazaar, also in the city's south, while a third hit the Dadar district in the city centre, known for its gold market. | Another blast, described by the authorities as low intensity, hit the Zaveri Bazaar, also in the city's south, while a third hit the Dadar district in the city centre, known for its gold market. |
| Mr Chidambaram said none of the bombs had been triggered remotely. | Mr Chidambaram said none of the bombs had been triggered remotely. |
| Federal commando, forensic and investigation teams have arrived in Mumbai to help the local police. | Federal commando, forensic and investigation teams have arrived in Mumbai to help the local police. |
| It is hoped security cameras at the gold market and jewellery shops where the two biggest blasts occurred will aid the investigation | It is hoped security cameras at the gold market and jewellery shops where the two biggest blasts occurred will aid the investigation |
| The capital, Delhi, Calcutta and several other cities have been put on alert, with a police presence being stepped up at public places like malls, cinemas, parks and transport terminals. | The capital, Delhi, Calcutta and several other cities have been put on alert, with a police presence being stepped up at public places like malls, cinemas, parks and transport terminals. |
| Schools open | Schools open |
| On Thursday, the government revised the death toll from the blasts down from 21 to 17, and said 131 people had been injured. | On Thursday, the government revised the death toll from the blasts down from 21 to 17, and said 131 people had been injured. |
| But rescue workers also found a severed head at one of the blast sites which had not yet been identified or included in casualty figures, Mr Chidambaram said. | But rescue workers also found a severed head at one of the blast sites which had not yet been identified or included in casualty figures, Mr Chidambaram said. |
| Most of Mumbai, however, began to return to normal life as dawn broke on Thursday, with vendors making their usual rounds and schools kept open despite the attack. | Most of Mumbai, however, began to return to normal life as dawn broke on Thursday, with vendors making their usual rounds and schools kept open despite the attack. |
| Mumbai has been targeted many times in recent years. | Mumbai has been targeted many times in recent years. |
| The 2008 attacks, which targeted two high-end hotels, a busy train station, a Jewish centre and other sites frequented by foreigners, were blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. | The 2008 attacks, which targeted two high-end hotels, a busy train station, a Jewish centre and other sites frequented by foreigners, were blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. |
| The gunmen, nine of whom died in the raid, killed 165 people. | The gunmen, nine of whom died in the raid, killed 165 people. |
| Peace talks between Pakistan and India were broken off after the attacks and have only recently resumed. | Peace talks between Pakistan and India were broken off after the attacks and have only recently resumed. |
| In a statement swiftly issued on Wednesday, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed their "deepest sympathies to the Indian leadership". | In a statement swiftly issued on Wednesday, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed their "deepest sympathies to the Indian leadership". |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosions? Send your comments using the post form below. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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