Kochi: Two killed, over 40 injured in multiple blasts at Jehovah’s Witness prayer meeting

The Kerala Police on Sunday said that a man from Thrissur claimed responsibility for a series of blasts at a convention centre of a Christian religious group, PTI reported.

The explosion, which occurred at a Jehovah’s Witnesses gathering in Kalamassery municipality area, left two persons dead and over 40 injured.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) MR Ajith Kumar said that a man named Dominic Martin surrendered to the police in the Thrissur district and claimed responsibility for the blasts, ANI reported. He said that the police are investigating his claim.

Martin later said in a video that he had been a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 16 years, The Indian Express reported.

“I had been a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the last 16 years,” he said. “I was not very serious about my faith. I realised that their stand is anti-national and wanted them to rectify it. But they were not ready for it.”

The blasts

Around 2,500 Jehovah’s Witnesses from across the state had gathered for a prayer session at the Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre when the blasts took place.

A witness told reporters that the first blast took place around 9.30 am, five minutes after the prayer session began.

“There was a series of blasts from the stage of the...

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