RDX may have been used, say investigators

Investigating officials probing Sunday's blast at German Bakery have hinted that RDX and some amount of ammonium nitrate may have been used. The Pune police have, however, ruled out the possibility of the use of a timer in triggering the blast.

“Apart from the timer device, there are six different methods,
including the use of a remote device to trigger the blast. We are ascertaining which of these six methods were used by the suspects,” said a police officer probing the blast.

“The impact of the explosion was such that unless RDX was used, it would not have been possible to create such extensive damage,” a senior police officer said.

However, Pune commissioner of police Satyapal Singh refused to say anything about the either explosive used or those behind the blast. “Many agencies are working on the case. We are confident of cracking it soon,” he said.

The chemical elements have been sent to the Regional Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Pashan. A forensic expert of the state government said a detailed report about the explosive used would be sent to the state government and Pune police soon.

Meanwhile, the Pune police and state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) have conducted raids at seven different places in the city following the blast on Saturday evening. The raids were conducted at Hadapsar, Kondhwa, Khadak and other areas. However, police officers were tight-lipped about details.

On Sunday, Singh said that two foreign nationals – an Italian and an Iranian national – were among nine deceased. Around 12 foreign students were among the 60 injured.