Nine bombs went off in what the Indian government labeled as a terrorist attack at the sacred Bodh Gaya temple complex in eastern Bihar state. Sunday morning shortly after 5 a.m., two monks were rushed to the hospital due to injuries from the blast.
The most prominent part of the site is the Bodhi Tree, where Buddha was said to have achieved his enlightenment in 531 BC. Four blasts took place inside the temple complex, and the other three took place outside, one right near the Bodhi Tree. Luckily, the historic site was not damaged and the Bodhi Tree was left unharmed.
Two more bombs were soon found outside of the complex and were immediately diffused. New Delhi police say they warned state officials that the Indian Mujahideen group could possibly target the religious site because they have admitted to other, similar bombings in previous years.
Lately there have been clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Otherwise, attacks on Buddhist sites are usually uncommon.
"Such attacks on religious places will never be tolerated," Manmohan Singh, prime minister of India, told ABC News.
According to One India News, thankfully the bombs were reported to be of low-intensity.