At least four people have been injured, one critically, in a bomb blast in Bengaluru on Sunday evening.
The Bangalore police said preliminary observation indicated that an IED (improvised explosive device) was placed near a popular 'hangout' on Church Street.
City Police Commissioner MN Reddi said the bomb blast took place at 8.30 pm near Coconut Grove restaurant. Church Street is among the busiest places in Bengaluru on weekends.
The police said they are investigating the matter and have not ruled out a 'terror' angle to the incident. The scene of the blast has been cordoned off.
A woman identified as Bhavani Devi, who sustained critical injuries to the head, has been rushed to the Mallya hospital.
The police said only one more person was injured in the blast and was treated for minor injuries. However, eyewitnesses claimed at least four in were injured.
Following the blast, the police have put the city on terror alert and the entire police force of Bengaluru has been mobilised. Reports claim that a special investigation team has been formed to probe the blast.
Site where a low intensity blast took place at Church street(Bangalore), 2 injured in the blast,police at the spot http://t.co/lYgZPTCJRr">pic.twitter.com/lYgZPTCJRr
— ANI (@ANI_news) https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/549237460903813120">December 28, 2014
Does the Sunday's Bengaluru Blast have an ISIS angle?
The bomb blast comes at a time when the Islamic State (ISIS) militants warned the Bangalore police of dire consequences after it arrested leading Twitter jihadi Mehdi Masroor Biswas for his role in patronising the ISIS in India.
Following his arrest, the ISIS supporters had sent in a direct message to the Bengaluru Joint Commissioner (Crime) Hemanth Nimbalkar and Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Abhishek Goyal, who played an instrumental role in nabbing Biswas.
In message addressed to Bangalore Police on a Twitter handle Abouanfal Almaghribi @abouanfal6, an ISIS supporter had said : "We will not leave our brothers in your hand. Revenge is coming. Wait for our reaction."
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Assures Assistance
On Twitter, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he was in touch with the Karnataka Chief Minister and would offer all help for investigating the blast.
Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri S Siddaramaiah regarding the Bangalore blasts. He apprised me of the situation. Centre ready to provide all help.
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) December 28, 2014
