1 dead, about 20 injured in Kerala,India convention center bomb blast

One person was killed and over 20 have been injured in a suspected terrorist attack that took place at a convention centre in Kalamassery in Ernakulam district of Kerala on Sunday morning. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed that two of those injured are critical.

Witnesses said multiple explosions took place during a Jehovah Witness Convention for which around 2,000 people had gathered. Sources have told News18 that initial assessment is suggesting it to be a terror attack. Bomb squad, forensics team and a team of NIA have reached the spot.

Note: This happened after former Hamas Chief’s Participation at Kerala Event.

Baby PV, Assistant Commissioner ACP Thrikkakara, confirmed to News18 that one person has died and 20-25 have been injured in the incident. Two blasts took place within 5-10 seconds, he said. “Situation is in control, according to initial investigation, two blasts happened in 5 to 10 seconds… Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams are at the spot. Investigation will give clarity whether this was a bomb blast.”

Jehovah witnesses are a group of Christians who do not identify as protestants. The Jehovah witness convention is an annual gathering wherein larger assemblies called “Regional Conventions” take place which are usually three days long, Friday-Sunday.

These conventions consist primarily of Bible-based talks, dramatisations, and videos of their preaching work.

Top Intelligence sources have told News18 that multiple blast went off in one hall, adding that it is clearly terror attack.

Jehovah community is a target for all, sources said. They are a separate Christian group and easy target of other communities because of differences, sources said and added that this is a small group and easy to identify and attack.

The explosion comes amid ongoing controversy over the participation of a Hamas leader at an event in Kerala. Hamas leader Khaled Mashal on Saturday participated virtually and also addressed a protest programme organised by an Islamist group in the state against Israel’s war with the militant outfit.

Khaled Mashal is said to be a founding member of Hamas politburo and was its chairman until 2017. It, however, is too early to draw any connection between the rally with Hamas representative and the explosion today.