Bangalore:

While the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and local police continue to ascertain the nature of Wednesday’s blast in Bangalore, preliminary investigations have indicated that a pipe bomb was used to trigger the blast in the city.

Reports said on Thursday that the samples collected by the experts of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) from the blast site and their investigation so far have confirmed that the explosive used to trigger the blast was an improvised explosive device (IED) in the form of a pipe (pipe bomb).

The forensic experts have also concluded that the explosive had been planted on a motorbike parked a few metres away from the BJP office in Malleshwaram.

Forensic experts found lithium and alkaline residues scattered around the site, an indication that the bomb was an improvised explosive device (IED) in the form of a pipe (pipe bomb).

Investigators believe that pipe bomb was attached to the stolen motorbike to make it look like a component. The explosive material used was ammonium nitrate, commonly used in stone quarries.According to police, the materials used in making the bomb is easily available in the market.

Forensic officials believe that the explosion was triggered by a battery-operated timer device. They also confirmed that no shrapnels, pellets or ball bearings were packed into the IED, which might have caused major damage.

Sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the evidence gathered at the scene of crime and the kind of explosive device used indicate the involvement of an amateur, local module.

One of the eye-witnesses was quoted as saying that the bomb-laden bike was flung several metres high as the explosion was triggered. The two-wheeler was blown to smithereens and its parts were strewn around for 10 metres.

The bike, an old 100cc blue Suzuki, carried a fake Tamil Nadu registration number TN 22 R 3769. Forensic experts said they have, however, found the chassis number - 1108F001568, a crucial clue.

Senior police officials suspect the perpetrators might have procured the motorbike from a scrap market.

They said two teams of Central Crime Branch officers had already been dispatched to the Shivajinagar scrap yard, and another team to JC Nagar and SP Road, as part of the investigation.

Unconfirmed reports said two traders in used vehicles from Shivajinagar were being questioned by the cops. However, senior officers denied it.

The police are reportedly trying to prepare sketches of the culprits based on eyewitness reports.

Security still remains tight in the state capital with elections round the corner and the local police have increased monitoring of important installations and public movement at important places.

source:http://zeenews.india.com