Kerala: 1 Dead as Blasts Hit Christian Group’s Event in Ernakulam, All Clues Point to Terror Attack

One person was killed and over 40 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, who spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident, informed that some of those injured are critical.

Witnesses said multiple explosions took place during a ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ Convention for which over 2,000 people had gathered. Sources have told News18 that initial assessment is suggesting it to be a terror attack, particularly serial blasts. Bomb squad, forensics team and a team of NIA rushed to the spot, while a suspect was nabbed from Kannur railway station.

Baby PV, Assistant Commissioner ACP Thrikkakara, confirmed to News18 that one person has died, around 40 people have been injured in the blasts and that some of them are critical. He also said confirmed that multiple explosions had taken place, not just one. “All investigating agencies are present at spot, investigation is going on… investigation will reveal whether this is a bomb blast… one dead, 40 injured, four-five are critically injured. Situation is under control,” Baby PV said.

While Kerala DGP later said preliminary investigation hints towards use of IED (improvised explosive device) for the blasts, with a “tiffin box” suspected to have been used to store it, use of incendiary device is also is also an angle coming out now.

News18 has learnt that most of those critical have burn injuries, hence, investigators are also working on the premise that an “incendiary device” might have been used. An improvised incendiary device (IID) is designed to destroy, to start fires in different ways instead of exploding.

‘Jehovah’s 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.

According to jw.org, website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, India has about 56,747 Ministers who teach the Bible.

These conventions consist primarily of Bible-based talks, dramatisations, and videos of their preaching work. Their website, jw.org, describes them as being “different from other religious groups that are called Christian.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the “Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, not part of a Trinity” — the doctrine which defines that God exists in three equal persons of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. “We do not believe that the soul is immortal, that there is any basis in Scripture for saying that God tortures people in an everlasting hell, or that those who take the lead in religious activities should have titles that elevate them above others,” jw.org reads.

Top Intelligence sources have told News18 that multiple blast went off in one hall, adding weight to the claims of it likely being a 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.

Giving an update on the person killed in the incident, Kerala Minister VN Vasavan said the woman died from the fire triggered by the blast. He informed that the injured are admitted in Aster Medcity, Rajagiri and Sunrise hospital in Kochi.

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. While it is too early to draw any connection between the rally with Hamas representative and the explosion that took place today, sources said there is a possibility that someone attacked this community, mistaking them to be Jews.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the incident of Hamas leader participating in a rally in Kerala showed “the failure of the Pinarayi Vijayan government”, while the organisers of the event justified it as “nothing unusual”.

Meanwhile, Delhi has been put on high alert after the Kerala blast incident. Instructions have been issued to increase security of all churches in Delhi, sources said.