Germany: Explosion in Gurudwara injures 3; India expresses concern
Police are working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately.
Berlin: German police say three people have been injured in an apparently deliberate explosion at a Sikh Gurudwara in the western city of Essen.
India on Sunday expressed concern over the development and asserted that they were in touch with the local authorities on the ground situation.
"Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Distressed to hear of an explosion in a Gurudwara in Essen in Germany. Our Mission is following up w/ local authorities on ground situation
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 17, 2016
A spokesman for Essen police told The Associated Press that a masked person is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast at 7 pm on Saturday (1700 GMT). Spokesman Lars Lindemann said the explosion was "quite violent," blowing out several windows. One of the injured was said to be in a serious condition.
Lindemann says police are working on the assumption that the explosion was caused deliberately but that there are no indications it was a terrorist incident. He says the gurudwara had hosted a wedding earlier in the day and those injured are believed to have been among the guests.