Kerala News

Kerala Blasts: Serial Explosions Rock Christian Meeting After Hamas Founder Khaled Mashal Addresses Pro-Palestine Meet At Malappuram

October 29, 2023
The Commune

In a shocking turn of events, a series of coordinated explosions sent shockwaves through Kerala, specifically targeting a Jehovah’s Witness meeting in Kalamassery. The incident occurred just hours after former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal made a virtual appearance at a pro-Palestine rally in Malappuram.

It is noteworthy to mention that Kochi is home to a small Jewish population called Cochin Jews and has around 4 Synagogues.

The tragedy unfolded as at least one person lost their life, and 23 others suffered injuries at the Jehovah’s Witness convention center in Kalamassery, Kochi. The explosions, at least three in total, occurred within minutes after the prayer meeting commenced. This incident has deeply shaken the local community.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses convention was underway at the center, located approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Kochi. Eyewitnesses reported that the first blast took place during a prayer session, sending panic and confusion through the attendees.

An elderly woman who was inside the convention center described the harrowing scene, saying, “Subsequently, we heard two more blasts,” which only intensified the fear and chaos that had gripped the gathering.

The Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, expressed his deep regret, terming the blasts “unfortunate.” He emphasized that the situation is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and senior police officials from across the state are en route to the blast site to investigate the incident thoroughly.

On the other hand, the Communist CM himself along with senior CPI-M leaders including Sitaram Yechury participated in a pro-Palestine rally titled “Stop this Genocidal Aggression on Gaza”

Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, has meanwhile directed all healthcare workers to report for duty in the wake of the blasts to provide medical assistance to the victims and the injured.

As of now, the cause of the blasts remains unknown, and a comprehensive investigation has been launched, led by the National Investigation Agency. Their forensic team has already arrived at the scene to gather crucial evidence. The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, raising concerns and questions about the safety and security of public gatherings.

In the coming days, the focus will be on uncovering the motives behind these coordinated explosions and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for constant vigilance and security measures to protect public gatherings and maintain the safety of all citizens.

The blast comes just hours after reports emerged of Hamas founding member Khaled Mashal addressing a pro-Palestine meeting in Malappuram. Khaled Mashal presented a video message of approximately 7 minutes in duration. In his sermon, Khalid reportedly asked the people present at the rally to extend unconditional support to Hamas and allegedly made anti-Hindu comments. The nature of the video address, whether it was live or pre-recorded, has not been confirmed.

Prior to this, following Israel’s counter-offensive in response to Hamas’ terror attack, Khaled Mashal, asked Muslims across the world to gather on Friday (13 October 2023) in what he called “the Friday of Al-Aqsa flood” to wage jihad on the ground rather than just in theory. Mashal in his speech had said that the time has come for jihad to be applied on the ground rather than just in theory.

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