Terror attack at Delhi High Court: Nine dead, 45 injured

Blast Created Deep Crater

New Delhi: Union Home Secretary R K Singh said the blast was of "medium to high intensity" and created a "deep crater" at the site of explosion at the reception area between Gate No 4 and 5 of Delhi High Court. The blast occurred around 10.17 am.

Asked whether the blast was a terror strike, Mr Singh said "it had all the makings of an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) set up by a terror group."

Singh said 45 people were injured with some eyewitnesses saying some of the injured were in a critical condition.

Special Commissioner Dharmendra Kumar told reporters the bomb was apparently kept in a briefcase.

It was the second blast in four months outside the High Court premises. No one was injured in the previous explosion on May 25.

"We are investigating how the brief case was placed there It is not a controlled area. There were lots of people," said Kumar.

Delhi police suspected use of potassium nitrate in the bomb.

Court proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM. The main court premises where all the courtrooms are housed have been evacuated.

Delhi Blast: There was blood all over, says eyewitness

New Delhi: "It was a powerful blast...there is a lot of blood there," said a shocked woman lawyer, who was just driving up to work at the Delhi High Court when the explosion took place near Gate no 5.

Lawyers explain that 10.30 am is peak hour at this gate, which is used by litigants to enter and exit the courts. On Wednesdays there are more of them a it is a day for public interest litigations. This gate is crowded as entry passes are given out here. It is also the entrance closest to the parking area.

Lawyers said the blast could be heard at the Patiala House two or three kilometers away. Kavita, an eyewitness said she was in a judge's chamber when she heard the blast. "The windows rattled she said."

Early reports say the explosives were kept in a briefcase near the gate. At least 24 people have been injured. Most of the wounded have been taken to RML hospital.

The legal fraternity has not forgotten another blast a few months ago outside Gate no 7 of the Delhi High Court. That blast was of a lower intensity and caused lesser damage.

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