MALAPPURAM: A blast occurred in a car parked inside the Malappuram Collectorate premises on Tuesday. The explosion triggered high alert in the area, and soon the incident bomb squad and dog squad reached on the spot. No casualties have been reported. Three cars were damaged in the blast, and apart from a few batteries and wires, the police recovered a paper box, a pen drive, and a printed paper calling the blast the Base Movement.
A similar "base movement/Al Uma" message was found after blast that took place at the Kollam Collectorate in June this year. District Police chief Debesh Kumar Behera said remains of a pressure cooker were found, and that gun powder/ammonium nitrate was used. Eyewitnesses said a letter was also found that read, "Your days have been counted. Mohammed Akhlaq's death will be avenged." It included a map of India and a photo of Osama bin Laden. However, Behera said he has not seen the letter so far and could only comment on it after the forensic examination of the same is conducted.
Outfit Al Ummah was banned after the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts, and is said to have been functioning as "base movement". All the blasts taken place this year, have been around the court and collectorate premises in Kollam, Mysuru, and Malappuram.
