'Terror attack' at Bodh Gaya temple, one of Buddhism's holiest sites
Eight bombs explode at Bodh Gaya temple complex in what could be revenge for violence against Muslims in Myanmar; two monks hurt
Multiple small bomb blasts at one of Buddhism's holiest sites - the Bodh Gaya temple complex in eastern India - wounded two monks yesterday, but the historic temple itself was not damaged, police said.
The Indian government called the blasts a "terror attack" after eight bombs exploded at the complex in Bihar state, which attracts Buddhists and other visitors from all over the world.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but police said they earlier warned officials that Islamic militants could target the site, as revenge for Buddhist violence against Muslims in neighbouring Myanmar.
"Eight low-intensity serial blasts took place early this morning, injuring two people," senior police official S. K. Bharadwaj said. Two more bombs were found and defused inside the complex, one of them near the temple's celebrated, 24-metre-tall statue of the Buddha.
Along with temples, dozens of monasteries, housing monks from around the world, are near the complex, which is believed to contain the tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment in 531 BC.
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts at the complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and said: "Such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated."