2 dead in IED attack on congregation in Kerala

Two people were killed and over 50 injured after a bomb blast during a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect, at a private convention centre in Kalamassery town in Kerala on Sunday morning, sending shockwaves through the state and putting authorities across the country on alert.

- Vishnu Varma

Hours after the attack, a man, Dominic Martin, who said he was a member of the religious group but had been angered by some of its teachings claimed responsibility for the blast — which was triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) — and surrendered at the Kodakara police station.

Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guard reached the scene within hours of the blast, after orders from Union home minister Amit Shah, who also spoke to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured the state of all possible help.

The blast ripped through the convention centre around 9.30am, as nearly 2,500 people shut their eyes in prayer. Survivors recalled loud explosions and a “fireball” in the middle of the centre. Smoke soon consumed the large space, leaving people scrambling for safety.

People present at the meeting said that Sunday marked the final day of a three-day zonal conference at the Zamra International Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre, an annual event usually marked by prayers, talks and symposiums. This year’s theme was kshama or patience, members said.

“We start meetings with a prayer. On Sunday, we stood up and closed our eyes, but barely a minute in, there was a loud explosion from the middle of the hall, near the spot where the audio console was kept. Within seconds, there was another sound of an explosion. I could see fire and smoke going up in the air just five rows of chairs ahead of me,” said VK Michael, a man in his 50s who attended the conference with his family.