Blast from confiscated explosives at police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir kills nine

"At least nine people were killed and 32 injured after a cache of confiscated explosives detonated inside a police station in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police have announced. The blast occurred in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, the region's main city, late on Friday while a team of forensic experts and police were examining the explosive material, said Nalin Prabhat, the region's police director general. He ruled out any foul play, saying it was an accident. Most of the dead were police and forensic officials."

"The huge blast ripped through the police station, setting it and multiple vehicles on fire. According to local media, small successive explosions prevented immediate rescue operations. The police station blast came days after Monday's deadly car explosion in New Delhi, which killed at least eight people near the city's historic Red Fort. Indian officials called it a heinous terror incident carried out by anti-national forces."

"Police had brought the explosive material seized in Faridabad to Kashmir as part of their investigation, adding that they were kept securely in an open area at the police station, where the investigation that led to the suspected militant cell began last month, according to Prabhat, the top officer. He said a team of experts was taking samples for forensic investigation when the blast occurred, calling it an accidental explosion. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary."

At least nine people were killed and 32 injured after confiscated explosives detonated inside a police station in Nowgam, Srinagar. The blast occurred while forensic experts and police were examining the materials. Most of the dead were police and forensic officials, and some injured were in critical condition. The explosion ripped through the station and set the building and multiple vehicles on fire, with small successive blasts hindering immediate rescue efforts. The explosives had been seized in Faridabad as part of an investigation and were being kept in an open area; officials described the explosion as accidental and discouraged further speculation.

Read at www.theguardian.com