Onlookers stand at the site of a blast in the northern Indian city of Varanasi December 7. The blast outside a temple injured several people, including Hindu worshippers, and caused a small stampede on Tuesday, triggering a security alert across the country. Stringer/Reuters
“Islamist militants are being blamed for an explosion that killed at least one person and wounded more than 20 others at one of Hinduism’s holiest sites Tuesday evening.
The blast went off during a Hindu ceremony by the river Ganges in Varanasi, an ancient pilgrimage city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh at around 6:45 pm. Police were immediately put on high alert in India’s big cities.
Several television channels and newspapers said they had received e-mails from an Islamist militant group, the Indian Mujahadeen (IM), claiming it was behind the blast.”