BREAKING NEWS: Bomb blasts hit New Delhi

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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]