IED blasts at Christian prayer meet in Kerala kill 3, injure 58

KOCHI: Three back-to-back explosions at a 2,000-strong prayer congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian denomination, at Kalamassery in Kerala’s Kochi on Sunday killed two women and wounded 58 other members. The blasts were initially suspected to be a terror attack but were later declared to be the alleged handiwork of a disgruntled former member.KOCHI: Three back-to-back explosions at a 2,000-strong prayer congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian denomination, at Kalamassery in Kerala’s Kochi on Sunday killed two women and wounded 58 other members.

The blasts were initially suspected to be a terror attack but were later declared to be the alleged handiwork of a disgruntled former member.

The improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly planted at the Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre by the suspect, identified as Dominic Martinof Thammanam in Kochi, went off in the middle of prayers at 9.35am, police said.

The centre was the venue of a three-day Jehovah’s Witnesses event since Friday. Survivors said they heard

three explosions within seconds, with the first one being powerful, followed by two smaller ones. “I found a woman in flames lying face down on the floor. I grabbed a hose from the fire-safety system and sprayed water over her to douse the flames, but she was dead seconds later,” said Marcel, a participant from Varapuzha. The woman hadn’t been identified till late Sunday.

Suspect was once part of denomination

The other victim, who died in a hospital of 90% burns, was 53-year-old Kumari of Thodupuzha. Five of the injured are said to be in critical condition. CCTV footage of the aftermath shows children and elderly people among the crowd scampering out of the hall as chairs and other furniture burn. Some people are seen trying to douse the flames. Much of the day went by without a breakthrough in the investigation as police appealed not to amplify rumours and speculation on social media platforms about a possible terror attack on the religious congregation.

Investigators said in the evening that suspect Martin, who had by then posted a video message claiming responsibility for the blasts, had surrendered to Kodakara police in Thrissur, around 68km away. He was brought to Kalamassery for interrogation. Martin said he planted the IEDs as he felt that the teachings of the denomination he was once part of were against society and the nation.

Additional DGP (law and order) M R Ajith Kumar said Martin had provided evidence supporting his claim, which police were examining. Kerala Police chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb confirmed that IEDs were used. Kalamassery Police registered a case against Martin under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act. Security teams scoured public places across the state to rule out the possibility of similar attacks.

The Ernakulam district administration opened a control room at the collectorate to assist relatives of the injured.

Doctors from Thrissur and Kottayam medical colleges were deployed at the Kalamassery hospitals where the injured are being treated. A 14-member medical board was constituted to oversee their treatment.

 

This article is originally published on  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/ied-blasts-at-christian-prayer-meet-in-kerala-kill-2-injure-58/articleshow/104806864.cms