A series of explosions rocked a Sunday prayer convention held by the Jehovah\’s Witnesses in Kochi, Kerala, resulting in one fatality and several injuries on Sunday. What initially commenced as a religious gathering transformed into a harrowing experience as the detonations triggered panic, prompting attendees to hastily exit the prayer hall.
Alarming images captured in the aftermath of the explosions depicted individuals, including children, urgently fleeing the premises, navigating through overturned and burning chairs. Many people rushed to offer assistance to the victims at the focal point of the attack.
Following the bombing incident, an individual voluntarily surrendered to the Kerala Police, admitting to being responsible for the assault. Kerala ADGP (Law and Order) MR Ajith Kumar disclosed that the alleged perpetrator, identified as Dominic Martin, claimed association with the same group.
The incident transpired at an international convention center in Kalamassery, where hundreds of Jehovah\’s Witnesses adherents had congregated on the final day of their three-day prayer gathering. The explosions occurred at approximately 9:40 a.m.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used to trigger the explosions. Kerala DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb informed the media in Thiruvananthapuram that further inquiries are currently underway.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan conveyed their condolences for the lives lost in the multiple explosions that occurred in Kalamassery, Kochi, on Sunday. In the aftermath of the incident, security measures were heightened in Delhi and Mumbai. In the nation\’s capital, law enforcement worked in conjunction with intelligence agencies to maintain public order. Likewise, the Mumbai Police issued a high alert in light of the explosions in Kerala, bolstering security preparations ahead of the forthcoming festival season and cricket matches.