New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday termed the attack on a gurudwara in Germany an act of terrorism and said that at least one person has been arrested in connection with the case.
“We assume this to be an act of terrorism. The police have announced an arrest of one person named Yusuf T who reported to have surrendered after a manhunt was launched,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said at a media briefing.
He said the police claimed to have got a confession that suggested that he has possible links with the IS.
"Investigation is on going and more details are awaited. We are closely monitoring the situation," he added.
The attack, believed to be carried out by radical Islamists, took place in Germany's Essen city. Authorities said it's an "entirely new" strike targeting the Sikhs.
The blast was a "religious motivated terror of the Islamist scene", Essen's police commissioner Frank Richter said yesterday.
A powerful explosion on Saturday ripped through the entrance hall of the gurudwara during a wedding ceremony, shattering the windowpanes and injuring three persons, including the priest.
The interior minister of the state of North Rhine Westphalia Ralf Jaeger called for a thorough investigation to establish to what extent the two youths, who were detained after the attack, were radicalised by jihadists.
Around 70 police officials are working round-the-clock to investigate the entire background of the attack and to evaluate large amount of evidences collected.
More arrests in this connection cannot be ruled out, Richter said.
He assured the Sikh community that they can feel secure in the city and the authorities would do everything to protect them.
