Delhi blast: See sketches of the suspect. HuJI claims responsibility.

Mangalore Today / NDTV

New Delhi, Sept 7:  The Delhi Police has released two sketches of the man believed to be responsible for today’s terror attack in Delhi. 11 people were killed and nearly 60 injured when a briefcase bomb exploded at the reception area of Gate No 5 of the Delhi High Court.

Two witnesses reportedly shared their description of the man who left the briefcase at a counter where 200 people were waiting to receive passes that would allow them access to court.

 

 

The National Investigating Agency has formed a 20-member team to find out which group is behind today’s attack.

An email sent to media organisations including NDTV said that the Harkat-ul-Jihadi (HuJI) takes responsibility for today’s blast. HuJI is a Pakistan-based terrorist group. "We take the mail very seriously," said NIA Chief SC Sinha. The email states, "We owe the responsibility of today’s blasts at High Court Delhi... our demand is that Afzal Guru’s death sentence should be repealed immediately else we would target major high courts and the Supreme Court of India."

Afzal Guru has been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court for his role in the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001. His mercy petition that asks for his sentence to be commuted to life is pending with President Pratibha Patil. The Home Ministry has reportedly recommended that it be rejected.


HuJI claims responsibility for Delhi blast

New Delhi, Sep 7 : The Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami (HuJI) has claimed responsibility for the terror bombing outside the Delhi High Court complex Wednesday. In an email sent from an unknown location to various media houses, the HuJI claimed that the blast which left 10 people dead was the handiwork of the terror group, which also an affiliate in Bangladesh.

 

It demanded that the death sentence of 2001 parliament attack convict Afzal Guru should be immediately "repealed".

"We own the responsibility of today’s blast at (the) high court (in) Delhi. Our demand is that Afzal Guru’s death sentence should be repealed immediately else would target major high courts and the Supreme Court of India," the email read.

The home ministry is checking out the veracity of the email and ascertaining the location of the server from where it was sent.

Official sources said that the home ministry has not ruled out the involvement of the group in the blast.

Guru has been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court after he was convicted for the Dec 13, 2001 parliament attack.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed militant has filed a mercy petition with President Pratibha Patil. The decision on his clemency is pending, even as the home ministry has recommended it be rejected.

"We are taking the email seriously," National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief S.C. Sinha told reporters.