Last Updated: March 01, 2024, 22:13 IST
Rameshwaram Cafe where a fire broke out after a suspected cylinder explosion, in Bengaluru, on 1 March 2024. (PTI photo)
According to sources, the intention behind the blast will be known after the police apprehends the person suspected of carrying the bag to the cafe before the blast took place
The explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on Friday, which left at least nine people injured, was intended to create panic, informed sources. It has also been learnt that the cafe had previously received threat messages.
The explosion, caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), took place between 1:30 and 2:00 pm at the Whitefield branch of the cafe in the city’s Rajajinagar.
According to sources, the intention behind the blast will be known after the police apprehends the person suspected of carrying the bag to the cafe before the blast took place. Notably, this type of IED use in business has never occurred in the past.
“We are probing all angles, including ISIS and recent minority anger,” sources reported, citing officials probing the matter.
Earlier in the day, sources confirmed that the low-intensity blast was caused by the use of an IED, which has been successfully recovered from the spot. Many suspects are currently on the radar.
“The agencies are mainly looking at two angles – terror and business rivalry. The eatery chain was doing good business. Signals were picked last week that rivals may try to tarnish their image,” said sources.
‘CCTV Being Examined’: CM Siddaramaiah
Responding to the blast, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Friday said that someone had left a bag at the spot and the CCTV footage is being examined. The Chief Minister added that the Rameshwaram Cafe blast was caused by a low-intensity improvised explosive device.
“We have learnt that someone had kept a bag there. We are examining the CCTV footage. We are still investigating. Police is at the spot. It was a low-intensity blast,” Siddaramaiah said.