Pune, India - Nine Die Terror Strike, Rabbi And Jewish Center Safe
Pune, India - A powerful explosion ripped through a crowded bakery popular with foreigners in the western Indian city of Pune on Saturday, killing at least nine people and injuring 32 others, officials said.
The blast, which officials said was caused by a bomb, threatened to damage new efforts to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, with Hindu nationalist leaders already placing the blame for the explosion at India's Muslim neighbor.
India's Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said at least one foreigner was killed and one injured in the blast. Separately, Dilip Band, a senior police official, told CNN-IBN that four foreign women were among those killed. The network reported that one victim was believed to be Taiwanese.
Pillai said the 7:30 p.m. explosion at the German Bakery, near the Osho Ashram, a renowned meditation center, was likely caused by a bomb. "It appears that an unattended package was noticed in the bakery by one of the waiters who apparently attempted to open the package when the blast took place," Pillai told reporters.
The blast came as ties between India and archrival Pakistan appeared to be warming.
The two countries agreed to hold talks in New Delhi on Feb. 25, their first formal negotiations since 10 Pakistan-based gunmen rampaged through hotels and the train station in the financial hub of Mumbai for 60 hours in November 2008, killing 166 people.
Asked whether the blast was linked to the India-Pakistan talks, Pillai said: "Forensic investigations have just begun. Till they are completed, we will not know who is (involved)."
But Gopinath Munde, a senior Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party leader, asserted: "This again is an attack from Pakistan."
India had warned of a possible new attack in recent weeks and put its airports on alert for a possible hijacking attempt.
The blast, which officials said was caused by a bomb, threatened to damage new efforts to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, with Hindu nationalist leaders already placing the blame for the explosion at India's Muslim neighbor.
India's Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said at least one foreigner was killed and one injured in the blast. Separately, Dilip Band, a senior police official, told CNN-IBN that four foreign women were among those killed. The network reported that one victim was believed to be Taiwanese.
Pillai said the 7:30 p.m. explosion at the German Bakery, near the Osho Ashram, a renowned meditation center, was likely caused by a bomb. "It appears that an unattended package was noticed in the bakery by one of the waiters who apparently attempted to open the package when the blast took place," Pillai told reporters.
The blast came as ties between India and archrival Pakistan appeared to be warming.
The two countries agreed to hold talks in New Delhi on Feb. 25, their first formal negotiations since 10 Pakistan-based gunmen rampaged through hotels and the train station in the financial hub of Mumbai for 60 hours in November 2008, killing 166 people.
Asked whether the blast was linked to the India-Pakistan talks, Pillai said: "Forensic investigations have just begun. Till they are completed, we will not know who is (involved)."
But Gopinath Munde, a senior Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party leader, asserted: "This again is an attack from Pakistan."
India had warned of a possible new attack in recent weeks and put its airports on alert for a possible hijacking attempt.
Rabbi And Jewish Center Safe
Amos Barzilai of the local Chabad-Lubavitch center told Ynet the attack took place "two buildings away from the Chabad house." Barzilai said there were currently 15 Israelis in the city and that they were all safe and sound.
"We are sitting here, studying the Torah and thanking God the attack was not at our center," he said.
"The explosion shook the whole building, but it sustained no damages," Barzilai added. "We were naturally frightened by the noise; it took us a few seconds to realize what had happened. Shortly after, we heard the squad cars outside."
The Foreign Ministry was monitoring the situation, and has confirmed that no Israelis casualties were reported in the attack.
Meanwhile, an Israeli tourist who was staying at a nearby hotel told Ynet that the attack site was very quite following the explosion.
"It's completely different than what we are used to in Israel. All the surrounding streets are backed up with cars; this area has always had heavy traffic jams – and now it has reached extreme proportions – motorcyclists are even driving on the sidewalks.
"The street itself is quiet, as if nothing happened. It's very strange; police officers slowly put up blockades and removed people from the scene. They closed off the street and now everything is empty and deserted," he said.
"We are sitting here, studying the Torah and thanking God the attack was not at our center," he said.
"The explosion shook the whole building, but it sustained no damages," Barzilai added. "We were naturally frightened by the noise; it took us a few seconds to realize what had happened. Shortly after, we heard the squad cars outside."
The Foreign Ministry was monitoring the situation, and has confirmed that no Israelis casualties were reported in the attack.
Meanwhile, an Israeli tourist who was staying at a nearby hotel told Ynet that the attack site was very quite following the explosion.
"It's completely different than what we are used to in Israel. All the surrounding streets are backed up with cars; this area has always had heavy traffic jams – and now it has reached extreme proportions – motorcyclists are even driving on the sidewalks.
"The street itself is quiet, as if nothing happened. It's very strange; police officers slowly put up blockades and removed people from the scene. They closed off the street and now everything is empty and deserted," he said.
Bomb likely meant for Chabad House
Indian intelligence services say it is highly likely that the bomb was meant for the local Chabad House, several dozen meters from the cafe. It remains unclear whether the coffee shop, a popular tourist spot, was the target for the bombing, because the bomb apparently detonated after a waiter opened a bag left on the premises.
One possibility being investigated is that the bag was meant to be picked up at the cafe and taken to the Chabad House.
One possibility being investigated is that the bag was meant to be picked up at the cafe and taken to the Chabad House.
High alert across India
Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra state were put on high alert after the explosion, said Chhagan Bhujbal, the state deputy chief minister.
Pillai noted during the news conference that the ashram had been visited by David Headley, an American facing charges in Chicago aiding the Mumbai attackers.
IBN-CNN, quoting Indian intelligence officials, said Headley visited the Osho Ashram twice in 2008-2009. Officials initially believed he wanted to target foreigners visiting the ashram although they later concluded he was scouting the nearby Chabad House, a Jewish prayer center.
The intelligence officials, cited by IBN, also said that main suspects in the blast was the Indian Mujahiddin.
Pune, a few hours' drive from Mumbai, is a technology, educational and real estate hub popular with foreign students.
The German Bakery building and nearby shops were badly damaged by the explosion and splattered with thick patches of blood and several limbs.
"I came running to the bakery after hearing the explosion. I found people lying all over the place," said Abba More, who lives nearby.
Ynet/Haaretz/MSNBC
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