Bomb hits India market shoppers

India blames Islamist militants for the attacks

A bomb blast at a market in India's capital has killed one person and injured at least 15 others.

The market, in the Mehrauli area, was packed with shoppers when, according to eyewitnesses, two men drove up in a motorcycle and dropped a package.

Police have described it as a low intensity explosive device.

Two weeks ago, five bombs ripped through busy shopping areas in Delhi, killing at least 20 people. Nearly 50 were killed in Ahmadabad in July.

Police say they have arrested the head of a group claiming the attacks.

Mohammed Arif Sheikh, described as the founder of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), was arrested along with four others, Mumbai (Bombay) police said on Thursday.

Blood and glass

Television footage showed shards of glass in the market area, with people walking about in blood-stained shirts.

The site has been cordoned off and fire fighters have rushed to the area.

BOMB ATTACKS IN INDIA IN 2008 27 September: Bomb blasts kills one in Delhi 13 September: Five bomb blasts kill 18 in Delhi 26 July: At least 22 small bombs kill 49 in Ahmedabad 25 July: Seven bombs go off in Bangalore killing two people 13 May: Seven bomb hit markets and crowded streets in Jaipur killing 63 Delhi bombs follow haunting script

Ambulances are ferrying the injured to hospital. Some are said to be in a serious condition.

The brother of the 13-year-old boy who died said he had sent his brother to buy eggs when the blast went off.

"He had barely entered the shop to buy the crate (of eggs), smoke started coming out of a tiffin and suddenly there was a blast and he died on the spot," he said.

Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said they were questioning eyewitnesses who saw two men throw something from a passing motorcycle.