Delhi blast: NIA will take over investigations

The National Investigation Agency will take over the investigations of the blast. The Delhi police will assist the 13-member NIA team. This is the first major case where the NIA has taken up investigations right from the beginning. So far the NIA has taken over cases already under investigation. Watch live streaming here .

“The investigation of the blast will be carried out by the NIA,” Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said. Post blast investigation team of the Delhi police is also carrying out investigations, he added

Intelligence pertaining to threat emanating from certain groups was shared with the Delhi police. Despite Delhi police remaining on high alert the incident took place today, he said.

The NSG, forensic team, Bomb squad and dog squad have reached the spot and begun investigations.

Rajen Medhekar, DG, NSG said preliminary investigations suggests the blast was EID improvised with ammonium nitrate. Preliminary probe also suggests that a brief case carrying the explosive was placed at the reception, which triggered the blast. The Delhi Police has also confirmed that the explosion was a high intensity blast.

Dharmendra Kumar, Special DG Law and Order said it could have been a high intensity blast. Potassium Nitrate or ammonium nitrate may have been used as in the case of blasts in Mumbai in July.

Investigation is on and people have been requested to leave the blast site for safety reasons.

Delhi police will carry out a recce of the area in the next three hours. However heavy rain in Delhi is making their task difficult, also posing the risk of washing away some of the crucial evidence.

UK Bansal, Internal Security Secretary, said comparisons with the previous blast on 25 May  can only be made after the NIA and NSG give there reports.