11 killed, 76 wounded in blast outside Delhi HC

New Delhi, Wednesday, September 07, 2011: Terror struck the Capital when a powerful bomb placed in a briefcase ripped through a crowded reception area at the entrance to the High Court this morning killing 11 people and leaving 76 injured.

The “high intensity” bomb blast outside the High Court compound between Gate No. 4 and 5 occured at 10.14 AM when 100 to 200 litigants were waiting to get passes to enter the premises. Some lawyers were also present at that time.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said the blast was of “high intensity” and called it a “terrorist attack”. The blast also left a 3-4 feet crater at the site of the explosion.

Chidambaram said it was not possible to identify the group behind the attack. It was for the second time in less than four months that the Delhi High Court was targeted. No one was injured in the previous explosion on May 25.

Union Home Ministry sources said the death toll has risen to 11. Sixty-five persons were injured out of whom 15 are in a serious condition, the sources said.