Hyderabad bombs:

Indian Police were warned

INDIA: Indian police revealed Friday they had been warned of a possible attack by Islamist militants in a bustling shopping area of Hyderabad where twin bombings killed at least 14 people and wounded scores.

The near-simultaneous attacks on Thursday night outside a cinema and a bus stand in the Dilsukh Nagar district were the first deadly bombings in the country since 2011 and triggered condemnation from Indian and world leaders.

The attacks also raised questions about whether Australia's cricket team would go ahead with a scheduled international match against India in Hyderabad starting on March 2, although the tourists said the Test was still on for now.

As investigators sifted through the wreckage in their hunt for the perpetrators, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said those responsible for the “dastardly act” would be punished. No group has claimed responsibility but newspapers pointed the finger at Indian Mujahideen. A senior detective said two of the group's militants had spoken of a possible attack in the area during interrogation last October.

“We interrogated two militants who said they had recced various spots in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune for a possible attack,” said S.N. Shrivastava, a Delhi police commissioner with responsibility for anti-terror operations. “One of the places they mentioned was Dilsukh Nagar, which was hit last night,” he told AFP.

Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for numerous bomb blasts in recent years, and is often listed as a suspect in attacks across the country.

Questioned about the Indian Mujahideen's possible involvement, Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde said it was too early to say.

AFP