At least five persons have been killed and four others, including two children, were injured when a bomb exploded in the historic Mecca mosque in the Charminar area of the old city of Hyderabad this afternoon, in India.
The bomb exploded when thousands of people were gathered in the mosque for Friday prayers, DCP South Zone, Kanta Rao said.
The bomb exploded around 1.30 PM and people ran outside in panic. Stones were pelted at the nearby shops and police personnel by an angry group of people.
Hyderabad blast caused by crude bomb: Patil
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that the explosion in the historic Mecca mosque in Hyderabad was caused by a crude bomb.
Apart from that, there were two live bombs recovered from the spot and defused, he told reporters in the Capital after he spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy.
"So far we have information that there have been five deaths following a crude bomb explosion. We have already put the Rapid Action Force stationed in Hyderabad at the disposal of the state government," Patil said.
Investigations have already begun and "we have rushed a forensic team to the blast site," he said.
The priority now was to provide immediate relief to those injured and to the kin of the deceased, Patil said.
Andhra Pradesh govt announces compensation for blast victims
The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the blast in a mosque in the state capital Hyderabad.
The compensation was announced by Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy at New Delhi.
He said those injured in the blast will be given a compensation of Rs 20,000 each.
Reddy said there were three bombs in all, two of which were later defused.
If these two bombs had also exploded, the situation would have been worse, Reddy told reporters.
Pieces of gunny bag were found at the site, the Chief Minister said when asked about any evidence had been found so far.
The Chief Minister said over the last two-and-a-half months, the government had received intelligence inputs that some elements were trying to disturb peace in the state and all needful steps were taken to avert such an incident.
Asked whether it was a terror attack or "internal sabotage", he said, "I don't know... It is still being investigated."
Reddy said the DGP, the Home Minister, the Minister in charge of the district and all senior police officials were on the spot and were actively involved in controlling the situation.
He said Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had talked to him and assured him of the Centre's support in controlling the situation.
Asked if the blast was a result of police failure, Reddy said, "No. I don't think so. Police is very vigilant...Inspite of all this, at times things like this do happen."
The local Majlis MP, Asauddin Owaissi, however, claimed that six people had died and 15 were injured seriously.
The Mecca mosque is historic, said to be over 400 years old, and considered holy by people of Hyderabad, the rest of Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy, who is in Delhi, talked to the DGP Basith and other senior state government officials and took stock of the situation.
Home Minister Jana Reddy said that police reinforcements are being sent to the area and the situation would be brought under control.
Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed to maintain law and order in the communally-sensitive area, where shops and other establishments immediately downed their shutters.
Forensic experts have rushed to the spot to assess the nature of the blast.
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary.
Reddy talked to the DGP Basith and other senior state government officials and took stock of the situation.
Home Minister Jana Reddy said that police reinforcements are being sent to the area and the situation would be brought under control.
An eyewitness said more than ten people were injured. - DDNews India
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