New Delhi suffers terrorist bombing

[Cynthetiq]

damn.. I cannot believe it...

this really saddens me as I met so many people there recently and they all are such peaceful and nice people.

Terror blasts in New Delhi kill 55
Terrorists blamed for pre-festival marketplace attacks

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Explosions ripped through three places in New Delhi on Saturday evening within minutes of each other, killing at least 55 people -- most of them at a marketplace crowded with thousands of people getting ready for India's festival of lights, the state of Delhi's chief minister Sheila Dikshit told CNN.

She said at least 31 people died at the Sarojini Nagar marketplace in central Delhi and the others were killed at the Paharganj marketplace, both packed with people preparing for the Hindu holiday of Diwali, India's largest festival.

Police reported that the blasts wounded 155 people. (Watch a report on the explosions -- 2:18 )

While it is not clear what caused the blasts, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office said he believes it was a terrorist attack.

"This kind of cynical attack on the people of India is just not acceptable," Singh's media adviser, Sanjay Baru, told CNN.

No group has claimed responsibility.

"It's a very sad day for all of us because Delhi is celebrating a festive season," Dikshit said.

Authorities said there were explosions at three locations, and the reported deaths happened at two marketplaces, Dikshit said. It was unclear where the third blast detonated. (A look at where the blasts happened)

Witness: Bag exploded
A man who owns a store near the Sarojini Nagar market told CNN's Satinder Bindra that he noticed an abandoned bag sitting near his store and warned people to get away. As people scattered, the owner said the bag exploded, gutting several nearby stores and causing a fire that spread to other buildings.

The explosion caused a stampede as people in the crowded market tried to get away.

Authorities said bodies are still being pulled from the debris, and they fear the death toll will rise.

Many women and children sustained serious injuries.

The blasts triggered fears throughout the capital, shattering some of the festive atmosphere that precedes Diwali.

Fireworks are often set off in advance of Diwali, so many people who heard the blasts initially thought they were firecrackers.

Authorities urged people not to panic and to stay away from crowded areas.

Indian authorities had issued some warnings in advance of Diwali, saying people should beware of the possibility of violence. Such warnings have become standard in recent years, and there were no warnings of specific attacks being planned.

While Indian authorities are blaming terrorists for Saturday's attack, they are not saying if a particular group is believed to be responsible.

Pakistan's foreign office issued a statement condemning the attack, calling it a criminal act of terrorism, and expressing the government's sympathies with the people of India.

Delhi was the site of a deadly parliament attack in December 2001, blamed on Islamic militant groups backed by Pakistan, although Hindu-Muslim tensions are normally centered in the disputed region of Kashmir.

CNN's John Raedler and Ram Ramgopal contributed to this report

[Aladdin Sane]

Probably carried out by a gang of Swedish Lutherens...

[Psycho Dad]

ndian authorities had issued some warnings in advance of Diwali, saying people should beware of the possibility of violence. Such warnings have become standard in recent years, and there were no warnings of specific attacks being planned.

That is something that is likely going to happen in the US at some point. People are going to get to the point that their "give a damn" isn't going to fully function whenever these types of "warnings" are issued.

And of course who checks the color of the alert level every day.

[highthief]

It's amazing India has held together as long as it has, really. It's perhaps the most complicated country in the world.

[FngKestrel]

I'm heading to India in December and this really puts a damper on things. And Psycho Dad, you're absolutely right.

[Blackthorn]

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

damn.. I cannot believe it...

this really saddens me as I met so many people there recently and they all are such peaceful and nice people.

Cynthetiq you are spot on. I've got many friends in Mumbai and Bangalore and its really sad to see this happen. Mumbai saw it's own act of terror in a bombing incident a little over two years ago near the Gateway to India. After one of these events I always want to ask the perp what exactly was your point? What purpose were you hoping to achieve? What cause are you hoping to advance? What message were you hoping to convey? Whatever is it....YOU MISSED ASSHOLE! In fact the effect you were hoping for is just the opposite...

[irateplatypus]

Originally Posted by Aladdin Sane

Probably carried out by a gang of Swedish Lutherens...

ll inffeedels veell fell under zee shedoo ooff elmeeghty svedeesh loozeeruneesm. iech yugoort stund und bool ooff coorreeed reece-a in zee heert ooff stuckhulm is un insoolt tu ell trooe-a beleeefers. zee impereeelist indeeun eggressurs hefe-a cummeetted creemes egeeenst zee huly peuple-a vheech veell nut gu unpooneeshed.

BORK, BORK, BORK!!!