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Terrorists threw hand grenades: Advani

Twenty-three people were killed when gunmen went on a shooting spree inside the famous Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani said.

The dead included 13 men, six women and four children, Advani said.

Unofficial sources, however, have put the toll at 26.

The deputy prime minister said the terrorists came in an ambassador car and entered the complex by jumping over the fence and started firing indiscriminately.

They also threw hand grenades, he said.

Advani said he spoke to one of the priests of the temple over phone and according to him the terrorists were in plain clothes.

Advani said he was leaving for Gandhinagar shortly to assess the situation.

Terming the attack as a "deliberate design," Advani said the country's "enemies feel that the developments in Jammu and Kashmir would strengthen India's cause there and were trying to use this card to divert attention."

He said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to people of the state to maintain peace "keeping the enemy's intentions in mind."

Advani said though the number of devotees inside the temple was not known, around 25-30 people tried to come out of the temple but went back when the terrorists opened fire.

PTI

The Temple Attack: Complete Coverage

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