A man, sporting a cap, glasses, and a mask, captured by CCTV cameras at Rameshwaram Cafe just an hour prior to a blast at 12:56 pm on Friday, has emerged as a key suspect in the investigation. Police sources revealed that efforts are underway to identify the individual who had partially concealed his face.
According to police sources, the suspect entered the restaurant, had a snack, and then left. However, a tiffin box bag found inside a larger bag near the hand-wash area contained the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) responsible for the blast.
Nine individuals sustained injuries in the explosion, characterized by a loud sound, fire, and smoke, though the damage was confined to the area surrounding the bag. Among the injured, a 45-year-old woman suffered severe injuries, with approximately 40% burns, and is currently in the ICU, while others sustained minor injuries and shock.
Preliminary investigations suggest the use of an IED with a bulb filament, heated by a digital timer to act as a detonator, in a low-intensity device housed within a steel tiffin box. The explosive material is yet to be identified, but sources indicate it involved a combination of readily available substances contained in a disintegrated box.
The filament detonator bears striking similarities to those employed by self-taught Islamic State (IS) operatives, notably seen in a previous incident in Mangaluru on November 19, 2022. Police sources have noted parallels between the devices used in the Rameshwaram Cafe and the Mangaluru explosion, currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Bengaluru city police, in a press statement, announced the registration of a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 and Explosives Substances Act, indicating the blast is being treated as a terrorist incident. NIA officers were present at the scene on Friday and are expected to take over the investigation.
The earlier Mangaluru incident involved Mohammed Shariq, 24, who suffered burn injuries from a similar IED detonation. Shariq, an alleged IS activist, was arrested following the blast. The main explosive material in that incident was identified as gunpowder, readily available for purchase.
The similarities between the devices used in both incidents suggest a pattern of operation by individuals with alleged ties to terrorist organizations. Investigations are ongoing as authorities delve deeper into the connections and motives behind these orchestrated attacks.