Zeenews Bureau

Hyderabad/New Delhi: Twin bomb blasts rocked Hyderabad on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people and injuring over 100 others.

In the first terror strike in the city since 2007, the blasts triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) tied to two bicycles took place in Dilsukhnagar area, south of Musi River in the southern part of the Andhra Pradesh capital and about 15 km from the heart of the city, when the busy commercial area was crowded with people returning home.

The first blast took place around 7 pm near a tiffin centre opposite Venkatadri theatre and the second near Konark theatre.

Latest developments:

Sources say that the United Jehad

Council (UJC)could be behind the blast. UJC, comprising of militant outfits like Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al Badr, met on February 13 to plan revenge on India following the execution of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru.

Sources informed that 5 sleeper cells were involved in carrying out the twin blasts in Dilsukh Nagar. The explosive used in the blast was bought in Hyderabad itself and a team of NIA officials will soon head to Darbhanga (Bihar) in search of clues, sources added.

Initial reports speculate use of

`delayed timer` for detonating the bombs used in the blasts. The `delayed timer` provides ample time for the bomb-planter to escape after placing the bomb.

BJP president Rajnath Singh addresses press conference after visiting Hyderabad blasts site, says the Andhra Pradesh capital has turned into the epicentre of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India.

A specific alert warning attack by Pakistan-based terrorist group was shared by central security agencies with Hyderabad police on Thursday morning, Home Ministry officials said.

Unidentified bag found near the road next to AP Bhawan in Delhi. Police seal the area; disposal squad on its way.

Investigators are reportedly probing three specific names involved in Hyderabad blasts.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said police take all alerts seriously and there was no communication gap between the Centre and the State.

Centre sends about 500 security personnel to Hyderabad to strengthen law and order situation.

Delhi Police, along with Hyderabad Police, are expected to interrogate an alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist, arrested by Special Cell of the Delhi Police from Hyderabad last October.

National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon said, “There are terror modules, they do try and strike. Some we manage to stop, this one got through”.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 3.30 pm.

Uproar in Lok Sabha as Deputy Speaker Karia Munda says that no discussion can be held on Hyderabad blasts immediately after the minister (Shinde) made the statement.

Reports say over 1 kg explosive was used in each bomb in Hyderabad. Also, red and grey liquid was found after the blasts and timer was used to carry out the dastardly incident.

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj condemns Shinde`s statement, says it is `very routine`.

In Lok Sabha, Shinde says investigation revealed IEDs were placed on cycles. Two FIRs have been registered in the case. He further put the death tool at 16. 117 people are injured, Shinde said, adding situation in Hyderabad is under control.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde begins addressing Lok Sabha.

The teams of NIA and other investigative agencies have finished collecting forensic evidence from the Hyderabad blast sites.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain visit the site of Hyderabad blasts.

National Investigation Agency director general SC Sinha met Andhra Pradesh DGP V Dinesh Reddy over Hyderabad blasts.

Pakistan condemns Hyderabad blasts.

Senior Congress leader and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will be visiting Hyderabad today.

Preliminary investigation into the twin blasts in Hyderabad has suggested that Improvised Explosive Device (IED) were used to carry out the explosions and the modus operandi was similar to blasts triggered by the banned militant outfit Indian Mujahideen.

Forensic experts of NSG and NIA and state police are examining all materials found from the blast sites and a final report was awaited.

The Delhi Police, along with Hyderabad Police, are expected to interrogate an alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist, arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police from a place in Hyderabad last October. Maqbool, who is currently in Tihar jail, had said the outfit was planning terror strikes in some places in Hyderabad for which recce had been carried out.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2:30 pm amid uproar over Hyderabad blasts.

Death toll in Hyderabad blasts rises to 16.

Parliament resumes; Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj asked, “If there was information, why was nothing done to prevent such an incident?”

Reports say that the wires of the CCTV camera installed near the blast site had been cut at least four days before the incident.

Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh announced that Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will make a detailed statement in Parliament at 2.30 pm.

Blasts issue resound in Parliament, adjourned.

Cyberabad police file first FIR in Hyderabad blast case.

Sources claim that Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, who is holed up in Pakistan, masterminded the Hyderabad twin blasts and carried it out with the help of IM operative Yasin Bhatkal.

Sai Baba temple in Hyderabad was the original target of bombers, say reports.

Death toll in Hyderabad twin blasts reaches 15.

BJP gives notice in Rajya Sabha, wants suspension of question hour to discuss Hyderabad blasts.

Nagasayi, the senior inspector, told reporters that iron nails were found at both the sites, but not in much quantity. He also said that there were chances that Ammonium Nitrate was mixed with other explosives.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday made his maiden tweet to express sympathies with the people of Hyderabad.

Shinde also promised not to leave any stone unturned in investigation, adding specific intelligence was not given about a particular area. "There was no specific information that it (blasts) will happen in a particular area. A general alert has been sounded for the last two-three days and we have issued this alert to whole of the country," he said, when asked about his earlier statement that the central government had issued an alert.

Talking to reporters after visiting the scene of the blasts and calling on the injured at one of the hospitals, Home Minister Shinde put the death toll at 14, adding 119 persons are injured. Six injured people are critical at the moment, said Shinde.

BJP president Rajnath Singh will leave for Hyderabad at 2 pm.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has joined the international community in condemning the terrorist attack in Hyderabad.

The probe into the twin explosions has been taken over by the National Investigation Agency.

Shinde will reportedly give statement in both Houses of Parliament on Hyderabad twin blasts.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde this morning visited the blasts site, a day after admitting the government had received intelligence warning of explosions taking place in the country but no specific target was mentioned. Shinde drove to Dilsukhnagar and inspected the blasts scene along with Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and other officials. Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy briefed Shinde about the two near-simultaneous blasts in the crowded area.

Death toll reaches 13 in Hyderabad twin blasts.

The deadly twin blasts that rocked Hyderabad on Thursday was planned and executed to take revenge for the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, sources told Zee News on Friday.

Eight of the 12 people killed in the twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad have been identified.

The United States strongly condemned the terrorist bombings in Hyderabad and offered assistance in investigation if requested by the Indian government.

NIA and the National Security Guards (NSG) teams are in Hyderabad to probe the explosions.

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has cancelled his padyatra in the wake of the twin blasts.

After condemning the “barbaric act”, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy convened a law and order meet at 12:30 am.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the twin blasts as a "dastardly attack" and said the guilty should not "go unpunished".