NDTV Correspondent, Updated: July 14, 2011 10:01 ISTMore: India's home minister says no intelligence input for yesterday's blast to central or state agencies
@BreakingNewsBreaking News Chidambaram on Mumbai terror attacks: Not an attack on India's commercial capital
Chidambaram on Mumbai terror attacks: Not an attack on India's commercial capital
Mumbai: Home Minister P Chidambaram is holding a press conference in Mumbai on the three serial blasts that killed 17 and injured more than 130 people last evening. Here are the points stressed by him:
- 17 deaths confirmed. We have found one severed head that has been identified...that will take death toll to 18.
- Not an attack on India's commercial capital. They (terrorists) chose the places because of the density of the population and the congestion in those areas.
- No intelligence failure but perpetrators worked in very clandestine manner. There may be a very small group involved.
- No intelligence input for yesterday's blast to central or state agencies - this is unfortunate.
- 131 admitted to 13 hospitals.
- Of 131 admitted to hospital, 26 were discharged, 82 are reported to be in stable condition, and 23 are seriously injured. Of these 23, some are in critical condition.
- After a gap of about 31 months, Mumbai has suffered another terror attack. I express my regrets.
- Three blasts took place - Dadar, Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar. Visited all 3 sites last night.
- Preliminary assessment that Dadar blast was low-intensity; other two were high-intensity.
- Fact that blasts took place within minutes of each other shows it was a coordinated terror attack.
- Investigators worked through the night at the sites; forensic evidence has been collected.
- Maharashtra Forensic Science Lab has collected preliminary forensic evidence.
- All blast sites have been barricaded; nobody will be allowed to visit them.
- Nature of explosives used and trigger will be revealed later. There was no remote trigger for blasts.
- Asked police and investigators not to proceed on presupposition. All those who have the capacity to carry out terror attacks are suspected. All angles will be investigated, all premises will be examined, all leads will be followed.
- Recently, two members of the Indian Mujahideen arrested; members of CPI (Maoists) arrested recently in Pune and Mumbai. These point to action taken by the Maharashtra Police. Whether blasts were in retaliation for action taken, or whether this was caused by another terrorist group will be investigated.
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