India bombings

Indian authorities have launched an investigation into three bomb blasts in the city of Mumbai, which killed 17 people on Wednesday. Over 130 people were wounded.

One of the coordinated explosions hit a busy district in the south of the city, the same area targeted in 2008 by Pakistan-based gunmen, who caused mayhem with a 60-hour siege that left 166 people dead.

Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, who arrived at the scene hours after Wednesday night's attack along with anti-terror commandos from New Delhi, told reporters it was "a coordinated attack by terrorists."

Forensic experts cordoned off the scene to collect samples. Police were hoping closed-circuit television footage would also provide clues. All three bombs were reported within a 15-minute period, starting at around 6:50 p.m. local time. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks.

Widespread condemnation

The United States and the United Nations led international condemnation of the blasts, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling them "despicable" and vowing to visit India next week as planned.

Clinton said the blasts were "designed to provoke fear and division" and added, "those who perpetrated them must know they cannot succeed."

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton denounced the bombing as "heinous" and said it was "essential that the perpetrators of these evil acts are brought to justice."

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed for calm.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani swiftly condemned Wednesday's blasts in a statement. They "expressed their deepest sympathies to the Indian leadership."

Author: Joanna Impey (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler