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Delhi shopping areas hit by bombs Delhi shopping areas hit by bombs
(11 minutes later)
Five bombs have ripped through busy shopping areas of India's capital, Delhi, within minutes of each other, killing at least 18 people, police say.Five bombs have ripped through busy shopping areas of India's capital, Delhi, within minutes of each other, killing at least 18 people, police say.
The explosions, which also injured about 80 people, are not thought to have been very powerful but happened in crowded areas.The explosions, which also injured about 80 people, are not thought to have been very powerful but happened in crowded areas.
Two unexploded bombs were also found and defused, police said.Two unexploded bombs were also found and defused, police said.
More than 400 people have died since October 2005 in bomb attacks on Indian cities such as Ahmedabad and Bangalore.More than 400 people have died since October 2005 in bomb attacks on Indian cities such as Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
India has blamed Islamist militant groups for these previous bombings.India has blamed Islamist militant groups for these previous bombings.
They want to break the spirit of Delhi Arti Mehra, Mayor of Delhi In pictures: Delhi blastsThey want to break the spirit of Delhi Arti Mehra, Mayor of Delhi In pictures: Delhi blasts
CNN-IBN, a local TV news channel, said it had received an e-mail before the blasts from a group calling itself the "Indian Mujahideen".CNN-IBN, a local TV news channel, said it had received an e-mail before the blasts from a group calling itself the "Indian Mujahideen".
"Do whatever you can. Stop us if you can," the e-mail reportedly said."Do whatever you can. Stop us if you can," the e-mail reportedly said.
The same group has claimed responsibility for two other recent bombing attacks.The same group has claimed responsibility for two other recent bombing attacks.
The Indian government has put the security agencies on high alert.
Pakistan has joined in official Indian condemnation of the attacks.Pakistan has joined in official Indian condemnation of the attacks.
Chaotic scenesChaotic scenes
Two bombs are believed to have been planted in dustbins metres away from each other in the central shopping district of Connaught Place.Two bombs are believed to have been planted in dustbins metres away from each other in the central shopping district of Connaught Place.
Police believe that at least three other devices were planted at busy markets in the Karol Bagh area, on the Barakhamba Road and in the Greater Kailash area.Police believe that at least three other devices were planted at busy markets in the Karol Bagh area, on the Barakhamba Road and in the Greater Kailash area.
Chanchal Kumar helped carry several casualties to ambulances after witnessing one of the explosions, outside a metro station.Chanchal Kumar helped carry several casualties to ambulances after witnessing one of the explosions, outside a metro station.
"Around 1830 we heard a very loud noise, then we saw people running all over the place," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying."Around 1830 we heard a very loud noise, then we saw people running all over the place," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
"There were about 100-200 people around this place.""There were about 100-200 people around this place."
Gulab Singh, an underground train guard, saw an explosion in Greater Kailash.Gulab Singh, an underground train guard, saw an explosion in Greater Kailash.
"I was stepping out for a cup of tea when everything turned black in front of me," he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "Then everyone started running.""I was stepping out for a cup of tea when everything turned black in front of me," he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "Then everyone started running."
Television pictures show scenes of chaos at the blast scenes. Crowds milled around mangled vehicles, with debris and blood scattered across the streets.Television pictures show scenes of chaos at the blast scenes. Crowds milled around mangled vehicles, with debris and blood scattered across the streets.
'Enemies of humanity''Enemies of humanity'
The Mayor of Delhi, Arti Mehra, said the city would not be intimidated by the "cowardly" attacks.The Mayor of Delhi, Arti Mehra, said the city would not be intimidated by the "cowardly" attacks.
"They want to break the spirit of Delhi," he told reporters."They want to break the spirit of Delhi," he told reporters.
"They have tried this in other places before and they have not succeeded and they will not succeed here. They will not scare us.""They have tried this in other places before and they have not succeeded and they will not succeed here. They will not scare us."
Pakistan's new President, Asif Ali Zardari, "strongly condemned" the bomb attacks, expressing "shock and grief over the loss of precious human lives".Pakistan's new President, Asif Ali Zardari, "strongly condemned" the bomb attacks, expressing "shock and grief over the loss of precious human lives".
His Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, said the bombers were "enemies of humanity".His Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, said the bombers were "enemies of humanity".
After the bombings in Jaipur and Bangalore, a group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen also claimed responsibility. After bombings in Jaipur and Bangalore, a group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen also claimed responsibility.
While it is too early to say exactly what caused Saturday's blasts in Delhi, they appear similar to the earlier attacks.While it is too early to say exactly what caused Saturday's blasts in Delhi, they appear similar to the earlier attacks.
The earlier attacks involved multiple small devices hidden in small boxes or bags and aimed at soft targets such as crowded markets, analysts say.The earlier attacks involved multiple small devices hidden in small boxes or bags and aimed at soft targets such as crowded markets, analysts say.
The devices contained shrapnel such as nuts, bolt and ball bearings while the explosives used were improvised. Islamic militants in Kashmir have tended to use military-grade explosives.The devices contained shrapnel such as nuts, bolt and ball bearings while the explosives used were improvised. Islamic militants in Kashmir have tended to use military-grade explosives.


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