Two gunmen on a motorcycle shot and injured two Taiwanese tourists today near one of Indias biggest mosques, police said. The gunmen randomly opened fire near the Jama Masjid, hitting the tourists as they were about to board a bus parked near the mosque, police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said. The 17th century mosque is a popular tourist destination in the heart of the city.
The two injured Taiwanese men were hospitalized and their condition was stable, said Jaspal Singh, a top police official. Police launched a massive search for the gunmen and issued a security alert across the Indian capital. Cars and other vehicles were checked at barriers erected on major roads in the city.
The area around the mosque was cordoned off and police scoured the densely populated alleys around it.The shooting raised concerns about security in New Delhi as the city gears up to host the Commonwealth Games in two weeks. Seventy-one teams from around the world are to participate in the Oct. 3-14 games. A police official said witnesses could give few details about the assailants. "Eyewitnesses have told us the men were wearing raincoats and helmets. They fired around seven rounds before they sped away," said Karnail Singh, a joint commissioner of police.