One killed, many injured as multiple explosions rock Kerala prayer meeting

According to officials, more than 2,000 people were attending the prayer meeting when the blasts took place.

One person died and several more were injured after a multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Kalamassery area of Kerala’s Kochi on Sunday morning, police said.

Kalamassery CI Vibin Das said the first explosion took place around 9 am and multiple blasts followed thereafter, over the next one hour.

Sunday was the last day of the three-day meeting, which started on October 27.

According to officials, more than 2,000 people were attending the prayer meeting when the blasts took place.

The incident came a day after former chief of the terrorist group Hamas, Khaled Mashal, virtually addressed a pro-Palestine protest amid the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

Reacting to the participation of the Hamas leader in the protest on Saturday, Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, posted from his X handle, “Mashal calls participants to: Take the streets and show anger, prepare for jihad (against Israel), support Hamas financially, promote Palestinian narrative on social media, it’s time to add #HamasISIS to #India’s terror list.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after multiple explosions took place at a convention centre leaving one dead and several injured.

The Union Home Minister also instructed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) to reach on the spot and start an inquiry into the incident.

Earlier, the Kerala Chief Minister termed the explosion an unfortunate incident saying that the state government was taking it very seriously.

“It’s a very unfortunate incident. We are collecting details regarding the incident. All top officials are there in Ernakulam. DGP is moving to the spot. We are taking it very seriously. I have spoken to the DGP. We need to get more details after the investigation,” Vijayan said.

Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and the Congress’s state president, VD Satheesan, meanwhile, said he was told that there were two blasts and there was a fire. “First, there was a major blast. The second one was minor. One lady died and 25 persons are in the hospital. Out of 25, 6 persons are in the ICU unit. Around 2,000 people (were present),” he said.

Those injured in the multiple blasts were admitted to Government Medical College Hospital in Kalamassery, as well as in private hospitals.

The explosions were reported a little after 9.30 am at the venue where a regional meeting of the believers was underway. (ANI)

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