Ernakulam Blast: Sources have told News18 that initial assessment is suggesting that this is a terror attack. Bomb squad and forensics team has reached the spot.
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At least 20 people are said to have been injured in a suspected terrorist attack that took place at a convention centre in Kalamassery in Ernakulam district of Kerala.
An explosion reportedly took place during a Jehovah witness convention and as per witnesses, there were three blasts.
Sources have told News18 that initial assessment is suggesting that this is a terror attack. Bomb squad and forensics team has reached the spot.
Jehovah witnesses are a group of Christians who do not identify as protestants. The Jehovah witness convention is an annual gathering wherein larger assemblies called “Regional Conventions” take place which are usually three days long, Friday-Sunday.
These conventions consist primarily of Bible-based talks, dramatisations, and videos of their preaching work.
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Top Intelligence sources have told News18 that multiple blast went off in one hall, adding that it is clearly terror attack.
Jehovah community is a target for all, sources said. They are a separate Christian group and easy target of other communities because of differences, sources said and added that this is a small group and easy to identify and attack.
The explosion comes amid ongoing controversy over the participation of a Hamas leader at an event in Kerala. Hamas leader Khaled Mashal on Saturday participated virtually and also addressed a protest programme organised by an Islamist group in the state against Israel’s war with the militant outfit. Khaled Mashal is said to be a founding member of Hamas politburo and was its chairman until 2017.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the incident shows “the failure of the Pinarayi Vijayan government” and the organisers of the event justifying it as “nothing unusual”.
