History Today: When a bomb blast at Pune’s German Bakery shook the city

On February 13, 2010, a bomb exploded at a popular bakery in Pune’s Koregaon Park, killing 17 people and leaving 50 others injured. This was the first major terror incident in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

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On this day in 1945, the Allied forces launched a series of firebombing raids on the German city of Dresden, resulting in approximately 25,000 deaths. Also, on this day, the final ‘Peanuts’ comic strip was published, just a day after its creator, Charles Schulz, passed away.

Here is a closer look at these past events:

Bomb blast at German Bakery - major terror attack in Pune

February 13, 2010, started as an ordinary day at the German Bakery in Pune’s Koregaon Park. No one could have predicted that it would end in tragedy for the city. This was India’s first major terror attack since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

On this day, a bomb exploded at the bakery, killing 17 people, including five foreign nationals, and injuring 50 others.

The German Bakery, a well-known cafe that is popular among both locals and tourists, is located in Koregaon Park near the Osho International Meditation Resort and a Jewish Chabad House.

Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the blast, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) launched an investigation and filed a chargesheet against seven individuals in connection with the case: Yasin Bhatkal, Mohsin Choudhary, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Faiyaz Kagzi, Zabiuddin Ansari, and Himayat Baig.

Later, in September 2010, the Maharashtra ATS arrested Mirza Himayat Baig.

Another suspect, Yasin Bhatkal, was arrested in 2014 and remains in judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

The German Bakery reopened in 2013 after renovations, with improved security measures, including metal detectors, CCTV cameras, and security guards.

The city of Dresden is bombed, 25,000 people killed

On February 13, 1945, British aircraft launched an attack on the eastern German city of Dresden. Over the following days, they, along with their US allies, dropped nearly 4,000 tons of bombs.

The raids nearly destroyed the city, killing around 25,000 people and triggering a firestorm that engulfed the city. The intense fires consumed entire neighbourhoods, drawing oxygen from the air and suffocating those trying to escape.

Dresden, often referred to as the “Florence on the Elbe” for its rich architecture and art, had remained largely untouched by previous attacks. The initial bombing took place on the night of February 13, 1945, when nearly 800 British aircraft dropped over 1,800 tons of bombs in just 25 minutes.

As was standard wartime practice, US aircraft followed up with daytime raids.

On the ground, civilians took shelter as air raid sirens warned of the impending attack. Many died as they attempted to flee, overcome by the flames and the lack of breathable air.

A 1953 US report on the attack estimated that 23% of Dresden’s industrial buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged, while at least 50% of its residential buildings suffered the same fate.

The final ‘Peanuts’ comic strip is published

The final ‘Peanuts’ comic strip was published on February 13, 2000, just a day after its creator, Charles Schulz, passed away. This last strip was a Sunday edition.

The daily ‘Peanuts’ comic had concluded a month earlier, with the final storyline appearing on January 1, 2000. In this strip, Charlie Brown is seen on the phone, telling someone that Snoopy is busy writing. Meanwhile, Snoopy sits atop his doghouse, typing on his typewriter.

The last strip carried a farewell message from Schulz, in which he expressed his gratitude to fans and announced his retirement, explaining that he could no longer meet the demands of producing a daily comic. Schulz’s family chose not to allow ‘Peanuts’ to continue under another artist.

Due to Schulz’s declining health, this final ‘Peanuts’ strip was lettered using a computer rather than his usual pen-and-pencil style.

‘Peanuts’ debuted as a syndicated comic strip on October 2, 1950, and went on to become one of the most influential and beloved comic strips of all time. Schulz single-handedly created it for nearly 50 years without any assistants.

At the time of his passing, ‘Peanuts’ was featured in more than 2,600 newspapers, reaching around 355 million readers in 75 countries and translated into 21 languages.

This Day, That Year

1879: Sarojini Naidu, an Indian poet and freedom fighter, was born.

1923: The New York Renaissance, the first all-Black professional basketball team, was formed.

1931: Delhi was officially inaugurated as the capital of India.

1991: The Amiriyah shelter bombing killed 408 civilians. The US Air Force claimed the air-raid shelter was being used for military communications.

2003: Yash Chopra was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

2021: Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial. He had been accused of inciting the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.