Mumbai/New Delhi, July 13
A grim Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today confirmed the worst suspicion that it was a “coordinated attack by terrorists” in the heart of India. With the first blast going off at 6.45 pm and the other two blasts following within a few minutes of each other, he explained, left little room for doubt.

There was speculation that the blasts could have been a “birthday gift” for the lone surviving gunman involved in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, Ajmal Kasab. Kasab, born in Pakistan, turned 24 today.

Teams from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory ( CFSL) from New Delhi and Hyderabad were rushed to Mumbai to collect evidence.

While the Home Minister refused to speculate on the identity of the terrorists, the initial suspicion pointed towards the Indian Mujahideen, affiliated to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Improvised Explosive Devices ( IED) used in the three blasts sparked minor fires and panic in the country’s financial capital. It was not immediately known whether the IEDs used were of lower intensity than the ones used in some of the earlier explosions or whether the relatively lower impact was due to the rain.

Torrential rain possibly prevented a higher casualty with many commuters preferring to wait for the rain to subside before venturing out. The placement of the explosives, near bus terminals and in crowded marketplaces, clearly indicated that the purpose was to inflict the maximum possible damage.