5/18/2007
Blast in Hyderabad mosque, five killed
New Delhi: Five people were killed and 15 were injured when a blast shook a crowded mosque in Hyderabad near the historic Char Minar on Friday afternoon.

The blast at Mecca Masjid took place during Friday prayer attended by at least a thousand people. Senior police officer Kanta Rao, who spoke to CNN-IBN, said the blast occurred at around 1315 hours IST

"The blast took place between 1:50 and 2 when prayers was just finishing. Nearly six people died on the spot and more than 15 were injured. There is a box that could contain explosives and alos the bag. My party people were and saw that. The most unfortunate part is that the bomb squad hasn't reached the place," Hyderabad MP Assaudin Owasi told CNN-IBN.

Owasi also said the blast was very similar to the ones in Malegaon and Nanded.

Owasi said while there was no damage to the external structure of the mosque, flooring of the segment where the blast occured was completely damaged.

He appealed people to remain calm and said the leadership condemns the attack.

Unexploded bomb found

A bag and an unexploded bomb were recovered from the spot. Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh told reporters on the spot that the bag has been sent for defusing.

Most of the injured have been admitted to the Osmania hospital. Four of them are in a serious condition, Dr Sreenivas of the hospital said.

Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh told reporters on the spot that the bag has been sent for defusing.

Most of the injured have been admitted to the Osmania hospital. Four of them are in a serious condition, Dr Sreenivas of the hospital said.

PTI reports that a crowd threw stones at shops and the police after the blast. The injured have been rushed to the city's Osmania Hospital.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy, who is in Delhi, talked to senior state government officials.

Home Minister Jana Reddy said that police reinforcements are being sent to the area and the situation would be brought under control.

Mecca Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in the city and the biggest.

Bomb blast cases in the recent past

* February 19 2007: The Samjhauta Express bombings just before midnight killed 68 people

* September 8 2006: 35 were killed, in the Malegaon blast

* July 11 2006: A series of seven bomb blasts that took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai 209 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured in the attacks.

* April 14 2006: Twin blasts rocked the historic Jama Masjid killing at least five people and injuring thirteen.

* March 7 2006: The 2006 Varanasi bombings were a series of bombings that occurred across the Hindu holy city of Varanasi in India on 7 March 2006. At least 28 people are reported to have been killed and as many as 101 others were injured.