| Follow-up of the story posted this morning. |
The death toll from a bomb blast at one of India's oldest mosques has risen to nine, while three more people have reportedly died in later protests.
Police say an improvised explosive device went off in the Mecca Mosque in the southern Hyderabad city as thousands of worshippers attended prayers. Authorities say at least 17 others received shrapnel injuries in the deafening blast. They say the bomb was placed close to the prayer area in the ancient shrine and exploded close to around 1,000 devotees.
Officials say two other unexploded "improvised devices" were later defused.
Body parts appear to have been flung into the air in the explosion, according to footage shown by the Aaj Tak news television network.
The Press Trust of India says anti-riot police appear to have shot dead three people in violent protests following the attack on the 17th-century shrine. "There is confusion whether the other three [shot dead] succumbed to injuries or in subsequent police firing on people protesting in the aftermath of the explosion," the domestic news agency said.
Thirty-two protesters were hurt in the clashes with the police in Muslim-majority Hyderabad. The Intelligence Bureau has confirmed at least two deaths in police firing. |