Source: Hueiyen News Service
Pune, February 13, 2010:
At least eight people were killed and 53 injured in a bomb blast in Pune on Saturday evening�the first major terror strike since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The blast occurred around 6:30 pm at the city's popular German bakery in Koregaon Park - very near a Jewish prayer house and an Osho Ashram.
The bakery is also close to a hotel where 26/11 terror suspect David Headley stayed when he visited Pune.
Police sources said the bakery, mostly frequented by foreigners, was very crowded at the time of the blast.
There are one foreigner among the dead, and one of the injured is a Sudanese national.
Those injured have been admited to Budhani and Sasson Hospital.
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai confirmed that "this is a terror strike".
An Anti-Terror Squad reached the blast site almost immediately.
Teams from the National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigative Agency (NIA) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are also expected soon.
Sources claim that there was "unactionable" intelligence of possible attacks on religious places and army installations.
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister confirmed that there were "non-specific" inputs.
Sources added that the blast occurred when someone opened an unidentified bag; an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) is believed to have been used.
Eyewitnesses said that the police and fire brigade were at the spot within minutes.
"There was a huge explosion followed by a bang.
I got scared.
Many bodies were strewn around.
We immediately called for the ambulance to take away the injured," said a local resident.
"There was no fire just a blast and bodies were flung around; most had been blown to smithereens," said another.
Following the Pune blast, the Home Ministry has advised all citizens of the country not to touch any unidentified or unclaimed object or baggage, but report it to the nearest police station.