Wall near German bakery prevented damage to lives, property

But for the wall near German Bakery, that bore the brunt of Saturday's blast in Pune, the damage to lives and property could have been even more.

The bomb was planted near the wall, police said, adding the powerful blast caused a 6 by 4 feet gaping hole in the wall. If the bomb had been kept elsewhere near the bakery, it would have caused much more damage, police said.

Terror struck Pune on Saturday as a powerful bomb ripped apart the popular bakery near the Chabad House, killing nine people, including two foreigners, and injuring 60, in the first major attack since the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.

The Improvised Explosive Device, kept in a packet outside the kitchen of the German bakery, exploded at around 7.30 pm when a waiter attempted to open it.

The 30 by 30 feet structure, with a temporary extension for the customers, was owned by Shankar Kharose and Ram Kharose but was being run by Gopal Manipuri, police said.