A violent explosion rocked Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru during Friday’s afternoon, causing injuries to a minimum of ten individuals. The state’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, asserted that the detonation stemmed from an IED. He elaborated that an individual discreetly deposited a bag housing the explosive device inside the establishment.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar disclosed that the alleged perpetrator has been successfully identified via surveillance footage. Shivakumar added that the individual in question, estimated to be between 28 to 30 years old, had placed an order for Rava Idli at the cafe prior to the incident.
What Caused the Blast?
Sources indicated that police informed the Chief Minister that no additional IEDs were discovered on the premises aside from the one contained within the bag.
Could a Terrorist Organization be Involved in This Incident?
In response to inquiries regarding whether the incident constituted a terrorist act, the Chief Minister conveyed that such details remain uncertain as investigations are ongoing, as reported by the news agency PTI
Casualties?
The Chief Minister informed that among those injured were both staff members and a patron, with their injuries described as non-critical.
The nine individuals wounded in the explosion have been identified as
Farooq (19), Deepanshu (23), Swarnamba (49), Mohan (41), Nagashree (35), Momi (30), Balaram Krishnan (31), Navya (25), and Srinivas (67), encompassing hotel staff and an Amazon employee.
A case linked to the blast has been officially lodged at the HAL Police Station in Bengaluru under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
Video footage from the CCTV capturing the explosion.
Before the explosion, servers congregated around the counter, and as the blast occurred, the camera screen was engulfed in white, with plumes of smoke rising.
Images captured at the scene following the explosion depicted individuals fleeing from the café. The force of the blast caused their clothes to be torn, and numerous people were observed sustaining injuries.
Teams comprising police officers, firefighters, forensic experts, and a bomb disposal squad swiftly assembled at the location following the explosion, showcasing their heroic response.
CM Siddaramaiah’s Statement
“It was not a large-scale blast, it was an improvised explosive blast. Such things have happened earlier too, it should not happen. Let’s see what it is. In recent times, such blasts have not taken place other than the incident in Mangaluru during BJP rule. This is the first such incident during our government”