Ghaziabad police outpost blast: online post claims responsibility; ATS investigating

Anti-terror investigators are examining an explosion at a police outpost in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, on Friday night, 6 November, after a social media account posted a claim of responsibility on behalf of a little-known outfit calling itself Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan.

The blast damaged the outpost and shattered glass panes. Some reports say a delivery worker was hurt by flying glass; others report no injuries. The explosion appeared to come from an air-conditioning unit inside the outpost, and its cause is not yet known.

After the blast, an account named “Ghazi 2” posted the claim along with a threat to blow up the outpost, and one report says the post included a video of a masked man speaking in Urdu and Hindi. Police have not confirmed that the claim is genuine or that any such group was involved.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), bomb disposal teams and forensic experts are investigating. Police have seized a vehicle, but have not established any link between it and the explosion.

Why it matters

Ghaziabad borders east Delhi, and police outposts in residential areas such as Vasundhara see heavy footfall. Investigators will want to establish quickly whether this was an attack or an accident, and whether the online claim is real or an attempt to spread fear.

What’s next

Forensic results should show what caused the explosion. Police said they would also trace the account that posted the claim.