BREAKING NEWS: Bomb blasts hit New Delhi

PLEASE HELP US COVER THIS STORY BY POSTING LINKS, NEWS, IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

UPDATED with new info...

A note from one of my American students from Columbia Journalism School working in Delhi, Michelle Stockman (her contact info is below), triggered this post. She wrote before I saw this in any U.S. media outlet.

Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:43:52 -0400 Eastern Time
From: Michelle Stockman <michellestockman [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Bombings in Delhi

Just wanted to let you know that there were four bombings here in Delhi in
the last hour.  Two in Connaught Place, one in GK I and one in Karol Bagh.
Yesterday was my last day at work so I was not there.  Watching TV right now
to find out more information . . .

[I am watching the live stream CNN-IBN at ibnlive.com:
http://www.in.com/active18/watchnow/watchvideo.php?id=1626373].

If you need to find a freelancer in Delhi, check out the SAJA Freelance Forum. Or if you are a freelancer available now, post your info in the comments section.

NOTE: These are some of the most famous and crowded areas of New Delhi - filled with locals and tourists. Think Times Square and Central Park in New York City, the Mall in Washington, D.C., etc.

10:55 a.m. ET: A comment from a SAJA member who happens to be in Delhi:

City is quiet, but functioning. No retaliatory attacks and people are sticking together. People are generally calm -- the best response to terrorism.

An emergency message sent out by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is available below.

Update via e-mail from Steve Herman, VOA's South Asia bureau chief, at 10:17 a.m. ET:

I'm en route to GK1 M-block now where the last two blasts took place around
1800IST. Unconfirmed reports of 9 dead, 50 injured.

Update via e-mail from journalist Gulu Ezekiel, 10:26 a.m. ET:

Bomb defused at India Gate, picnic spot where families gather at the weekend. 

AP story, via NYTimes.com, filed at 9:50 a.m. ET, seven minutes after Michelle first sent around her e-mail.

BBC News alert is the first e-mail alert I have seen, sent at 10:41 a.m. ET (I subscribe to several alerts):

Wave of deadly blasts hits Delhi
Several suspected bombs explode within minutes of each other in markets in
India's capital Delhi, killing at least seven people, police say.
For more details: http://www.bbcnews.com

One of several videos produced by Michelle Stockman and Divya Gupta, Columbia Journalism grads working in Delhi for Hindustan Times:

PLEASE HELP US COVER THIS STORY BY POSTING LINKS, NEWS, IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

Barack Obama statement on New Delhi bombings:

"I deplore and condemn the vicious attacks perpetrated in New Delhi this weekend, which left 21 innocent people dead and nearly 100 wounded. These cowardly acts of mass murder are a stark reminder that India continues to suffer from the scourge of terrorism on a scale few other nations can imagine.  I urge all countries to cooperate with Indian authorities in tracking down the perpetrators of this outrage.  My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."
Monday, September 15, 2008
Contact: Obama Press Office 312-819-2423

We will post a McCain statement if/when it appears.

Message sent to U.S. citizens in India via e-mail:

From: "CitizenServices, American" <ACSEMBND@state.gov>
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:35:56 +0530
To: CitizenServices, American<ACSEMBND@state.gov>
Subject: Warden message: EXPLOSIONS IN NEW DELHI

EXPLOSIONS IN NEW DELHI

                                                                             September 13, 2008

Several explosions went off on the evening of Saturday, September 13, 2008 in New Delhi with initial reports of nine killed and as many as 100 people injured.  The bombs were located at Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, and Karol Bagh.

Americans traveling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, avoid crowded places, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.  If unattended packages are spotted, American citizens should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities.   

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's
Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov [travel.state.gov] where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel
Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada,
a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  Americans are also encouraged to read the Country
Specific Information for India, available on the Embassy's website at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov
[newdelhi.usembassy.gov], and also at http://travel.state.gov [travel.state.gov].

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ [travelregistration.state.gov] so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov [travel.state.gov].

U.S. citizens may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for
further information:

-- The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000;
fax +91-11-2419-8407.  The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov
[newdelhi.usembassy.gov].

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026,
telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350.   The Internet home page address is
http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov [mumbai.usconsulate.gov].

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone
+91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027.  The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov
[chennai.usconsulate.gov].

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone
+91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335.  The Internet home page address is http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov
[kolkata.usconsulate.gov]

Comments

[Rohit]

Two links for the lastest

http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/13delhi.htm

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Serial_blasts_rock_Delhi_7_dead/articleshow/3479914.cms

[SK]

NDTV is reporting 18 deaths. Karol Bagh, Connaught Place and Greater Kailash are all busy market places that gets very crowded on a Saturday evening. There are also reports that in GK the bombs were planted using a bicycle, suggesting links with serial blasts earier this year in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. There are also some reports that the blast in Karol Bagh was a gas cylinder explosion and not related to a coordinated attack.
Some links:
http://www.in.com/active18/watchnow/watchvideo.php?id=1626373
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/13delhi.htm

[Pavitra]

News gathered from television channels here...information coming in as of now...atleast 2 blasts in the Connaught place area, 2 at Greater Kailash and 1 at Karol Bagh...these are some of the most crowded areas in the city...5 blasts in a span of 50 minutes...Delhi Metro services have been halted for now

[Michelle Stockman]

* TV footage shows bleeding people being carried off of Central park in Connaught Place.

* In GK I, repeated footage of broken glass on the street.

* NDTV says cell phone jammers were in place in C.P.

* NDTV anchor said they appear to be low intensity blasts as the diameter of debris is not large

* NDTV unconfirmed report is that 18 people have been killed, forty injured.

# NDTV is reading email that was sent to media organizations from "Indian Mujahideen" claiming responsibility for the blasts. "In the name of Allah the India Mujahideen strikes back once more Within five minutes from now we will send a message to you . . . Do whatever you want to stop us if you can." Word is the email was sent in Urdu. [That's as much as I have been able to transcribe]
# Metro services have been stopped into Connaught Place

My contact info is michellestockman@gmail.com mobile 9717041018

[Chikodi Chima]

The impact of the blasts in Karol Bagh could be gauged by the fact that an auto was thrown up and got caught in the electrical wires.

[Michelle Stockman]

NDTV reports two live bombs diffused . . . unexploded bomb at India Gate . . .

[Michelle Stockman]

NDTV reports from police sources that a 12 year old child who sells balloons may have seen one of the bombers.

[Tarannum Manjul]

Some channels are saying that a 10-year old boy has been caught with a live bomb and this boy was a 'Fidayeen' which means a suicide bomber.

[tarannum manjul]

Keep watching NDTV... only channel which is showing the blast report without any sensations.

[tarannum manjul]

Blast toll goes upto 20
DOes anyone has any idea how to contact people in Delhi? mobiles not working and am worried abt well being

[tarannum manjul]

home ministry says blasts of low intensity. If after the death of 20 people... this is low intensity... wht were they expecting?

[tarannum manjul]

Atleast 90 people injured so far

[tarannum manjul]

Sarojini Nagar market also shut down. No networks in any major mobiles. People finding communication tough

[tarannum manjul]

12 year old boy being questioned by police. Pls write to the National COmmission for Protection of Child Rights... chairperson Shanta Sinha and member Sandhya Bajaj at sadhya.bajaj@nic.in to chek that the little boy is not pressurised by the police and even the media does not go overboard with a child prime witness.

[tarannum manjul]

injured toll goes up to 90.... And this was a low intensity blast ?????

[Gurpreet]

Mobile networks are back except for areas close to the blast sites. Police have taken preventive mesures by jamming networks as quite a few terrorist organisations detonate bombs through mobile phones.

Also in recent Ahmedabad blasts, it had happened that there were more explosions soon after people had gathered around blast sites.

[Gurpreet Singh]

The information about the boy being Fidayeen is incorrect. The boy was a baloon vendor who is likly to have seen the bomb planters.

- GS (Delhi)

[Gurpreet (Delhi)]

The police have also found some live bombs in Connaught Place area, the hub of capital Delhi. One bomb was also found and defused close to India Gate.

[Michelle Stockman]

Just got back from GK I. The market is very quiet now--just media and market association representatives milling about (getting the message out) while investigators pick up debris under a blasted out car. Blue glass chips and letters from shop signs are scattered across the ground. Everyone was walking through it and seemed to ignore police tape lines.

I spoke with Vandana Babbar, the Joint Secretary of the Market. She said she heard a loud noise at 6:30 pm and thought it was a cylinder blast. She said she ran out to make sure the cars could get out and another blast went off at 6:38 pm.

"I think the attack was quite planned," said Babbar. "This is one of the most popular markets in Delhi."

She said since the Jaipur bombings the market has instituted increased security measures like parking bikes and cars separately and more guards. She said the first bomb was placed in the bike area, and the second was placed in a dustbin by the market.
_____________
More Later. In the studio now editing video.

[FN/Frederick Noronha]

More links and updates here:
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1245925740&hl=en&topic=w

[Steve Herman]

HEADLINE: Serial Bombings Strike New Delhi Markets

INTRO: Police in India's capital say five bombs exploded and four more were discovered and defused Saturday evening. At least 18 people are dead from the serial blasts and up to 100 people injured. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman visited the site where two blasts occurred in New Delhi and files this report.

TEXT: Major upscale shopping markets in New Delhi were the targets of synchronized bombings at the busiest hour of the week. Authorities say in addition to the blasts within a 45-minute period at four markets, more bombs were discovered and defused at other locations in the capital.

At the site where two bombs detonated, the Greater Kailash-One M-block market, Delhi Mayor Aarti Mehra told VOA News the explosives were certainly placed by terrorists.

/// MEHRA ACT ///

“The way these terrorists operate it’s very shameful. In a cycle they put a bomb or in the dustbin. It’s very, very shameful and cowardly.”

/// END ACT ///

U.S. Ambassador David Mulford issued a statement saying there is no justification for the “vicious murder of innocent people.” He adds the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of India in the fight against terror.

Mishi Kant Sharma operates a small grocery store in the same market. He says the second blast there came seven minutes after the initial explosion.

/// SHARMA ACT, IN HINDI, EST. & FADES ///

The shopkeeper says the bomb detonated on the rear of a bicycle parked in the middle of the market. A rear wheel flew off the bicycle and hit a restaurant window. Many showroom windows came crashing down from the blast and light bulbs shattered inside the shops.

The South Delhi District Commissioner of Police, H.G.S. Dhaliwal, standing at the site of the second explosion, told reporters quick action to clear the market after the initial blast saved lives.

/// DHALIWAL ACT ///

“It was a commendable job performed by the local officers of this market. Of course, they got a lot of support from the market residents also. There were a lot of people moving in this area, so an immediate announcement was made on the p.a. (public address) system. As a result there has been not a single injury in the second explosion though it was quite a high intensity.”

/// END ACT ///

Others blasts took place at Connaught Place, the capital’s financial and commercial hub, about one kilometer from the Parliament and at the crowded Ghaffar market known for its imported goods, in central Delhi.

Private television channels say they received an e-mail, titled “Messaage (sic) of Death. In the name of Allah” minutes before the first blast. The message stated that “Indian Mujahideen have come back to strike once more” and that nine bombs had been planted.

Indian media reports say the e-mail has been traced to an eastern suburb of Mumbai. Television networks also report police detained several suspects in New Delhi several hours after the blasts.

Authorities say Indian Mujahideen, which has sent similar electronic messages just prior to explosions in other Indian cities, is likely a cover name for one or more known terrorist organizations.

Saturday’s bombings are the worst such attacks in India’s capital since October, 2005. Those blasts left 50 people dead, including several foreigners.

###

[Michelle Stockman]

NDTV now reports 25 killed . . . bombs defused at Central Park, India Gate, Regal Cinema . . .

[Michelle Stockman]

Links to major bombings in India in past two years: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/13/asia/AS-India-Blasts-Glance.php

[Michelle Stockman]

NDTV now reports 25 killed . . . bombs defused at Central Park, India Gate, Regal Cinema . . .

[Prabhu Guptara]

We need a Government of National Unity which sees its task NOT (as at present) as lining its own pockets and those of the elite, but rather sees its task as addressing the basic problems of our country.

Why? Because we are wracked by Islamic violence, Naxalite violence, Hindutva violence, the general almost mindless system of violence against the poor and disadvantaged, the widespread corruption, the decay and threatened breakdown of our institutions, the unreal optimism of the even slightly-educated, the irresponsibility of most of those of us who are incredibly rich, and the hopelessness of the average Indian (by which I mean those living on around $1.25 a day - the new definition of the poverty line by the World Bank).