Bombs Aimed at Muslims Kill 35 in India

At least 35 people were killed and scores injured yesterday when two explosions ripped through crowds of Muslims returning from Friday prayers in Malegaon, north-east of Mumbai.

Television pictures showed surging crowds running from the blasts and bloodied bodies being carried away. "About 35 people are dead and 50 or so injured, many of them children," mayor Asif Sheikh told the news network Times Now.

"I've seen seven dead bodies being carried inside the hospital," local resident Suresh Nikam told NDTV. "People have shut their shops and are going back home. People were disturbed when the incident took place but now they are coming out to help each other. People have also reached the hospital to donate blood."

The blasts took place near a cemetery outside Nurani Masjid, a mosque in the heart of the city, just after the locals had celebrated the festival of Shab-e-baraat. Many Muslims gather in cemeteries to honour their dead on this day.

Shivraj Patil, the home minister, said the attacks were an attempt to disturb communal harmony and appealed for calm. India has been on high alert since July, when bombs on trains in Mumbai left almost 190 people dead. The bombings were blamed on Pakistani Islamist groups.

Yesterday police cars were pelted with stones as they rushed to the scene and the authorities later imposed a curfew.

Malegaon has a Muslim majority and has a history of tense relations between communities. Five years ago violence over the US attacks on Afghanistan left 12 people dead.