Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA33
2008-01-28 13:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
WEST BENGAL AUTHORITIES BELIEVE JAN. 16 EXPLOSION NEAR
how-toVZCZCXRO2669 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0033 0281352 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 281352Z JAN 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1851 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1735 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI IMMEDIATE 0791 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI IMMEDIATE 0796 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0526 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0523 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0383 RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2263
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000033
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL AUTHORITIES BELIEVE JAN. 16 EXPLOSION NEAR
CONSULATE WAS CHEMICAL BOMB
REF: KOLKATA 0016
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000033
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL AUTHORITIES BELIEVE JAN. 16 EXPLOSION NEAR
CONSULATE WAS CHEMICAL BOMB
REF: KOLKATA 0016
1. (SBU) On January 28, ConGen met with West Bengal Home
Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray, the state's senior official
SIPDIS
responsible for security, regarding the explosion which occurred
200 meters from the Consulate on January 16 (reftel). The
explosion occurred a block from the Consulate on Shakespeare
Sarani (street),in front of the Hindustan Unilever House,
injuring five pedestrians and shattering some windows of
neighboring buildings. Ray confirmed that after much forensic
investigation, available information indicates that the
explosion was likely caused by a chemical bomb. He noted that
initially the cause of the explosion was hard to determine as
there was no standard high-explosive residue such as from RDX,
dynamite or others. However, trace amounts of potentially
explosive chemicals were found after some additional
investigation.
2. (SBU) On January 17, Deputy Commissioner Special Branch
Damayanti Sen told Post that since initially no explosive
residues were found at the site, a team of experts from Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur and the Central Forensic
Science Laboratory were researching the explosion. The team
will submit its findings on February 1. Sen said informally
that initial indications showed some nitrate-based
biological/chemical reaction may have taken place at the blast
site.
3. (SBU) Ray did not know who might have placed the bomb on
Shakespeare Sarani or why. He was afraid that it might have
been an effort at extortion directed at a business in the area,
but again he had no concrete information. ConGen asked for a
copy of the IIT report once released on February 1 and Ray said
that he would provide any additional information that he could
share.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC IN
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL AUTHORITIES BELIEVE JAN. 16 EXPLOSION NEAR
CONSULATE WAS CHEMICAL BOMB
REF: KOLKATA 0016
1. (SBU) On January 28, ConGen met with West Bengal Home
Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray, the state's senior official
SIPDIS
responsible for security, regarding the explosion which occurred
200 meters from the Consulate on January 16 (reftel). The
explosion occurred a block from the Consulate on Shakespeare
Sarani (street),in front of the Hindustan Unilever House,
injuring five pedestrians and shattering some windows of
neighboring buildings. Ray confirmed that after much forensic
investigation, available information indicates that the
explosion was likely caused by a chemical bomb. He noted that
initially the cause of the explosion was hard to determine as
there was no standard high-explosive residue such as from RDX,
dynamite or others. However, trace amounts of potentially
explosive chemicals were found after some additional
investigation.
2. (SBU) On January 17, Deputy Commissioner Special Branch
Damayanti Sen told Post that since initially no explosive
residues were found at the site, a team of experts from Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur and the Central Forensic
Science Laboratory were researching the explosion. The team
will submit its findings on February 1. Sen said informally
that initial indications showed some nitrate-based
biological/chemical reaction may have taken place at the blast
site.
3. (SBU) Ray did not know who might have placed the bomb on
Shakespeare Sarani or why. He was afraid that it might have
been an effort at extortion directed at a business in the area,
but again he had no concrete information. ConGen asked for a
copy of the IIT report once released on February 1 and Ray said
that he would provide any additional information that he could
share.
JARDINE