OAN’s Abril Elfi
10:47 AM – Monday, October 30, 2023
A bomb attack at a Christian prayer service in India’s Kerala State has killed one person and injured 52 others.
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According to Kerala’s highest-ranking police official, Shaik Darvesh Saheb, the explosion occurred at 9.40 a.m. local time on Sunday, inside the town’s Zamra International Convention & Exhibition Centre. At the time of the explosion, about 2,000 people were gathered for a Jehovah’s Witness prayer service.
“Preliminary investigation shows it is an IED device and we are investigating it,” Saheb said.
The explosion occurred on the third day of a three-day Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer meeting in Kalamassery, near Kochi.
According to police, a man surrendered at a police station and admitted responsibility for the incident.
MR Ajith Kumar, a police officer, identified the suspect as Dominic Martin.
“A man named Dominic Martin has submitted some evidence, which we are investigating,” Kumar explained. “He claims to be a Jehovah’s Witness.”
Authorities did not comment on the attack’s suspected motive, which remains unknown.
Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke with the press. He stated that the incident was “unfortunate” and promised a thorough investigation.
“It is an unfortunate incident. One person died and two others are in serious condition. An investigation has been launched and further details will be available later,” he said.
According to local media, there were three separate blasts at the prayer gathering, each hitting different areas of the convention hall.
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