At least 18 people have been killed and over 100 injured in a series of six explosions that rocked crowded marketplaces in the national capital almost at the same time on Saturday evening.

"Eighteen people were killed in the explosions and the toll could go up," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.

According to police 40 people were injured, while hospital sources said over 70 were admitted to various hospitals. Indian Mujahideen, shadow amalgam of banned SIMI and Lashker-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the serial blasts through an email sent to news organisations at almost same time when the blasts took place.

All those injured have been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The first blast took place at Ghaffar Market in the Karol Bagh area at about 1815 hrs IST in which at least 20 people were injured. Immediately after that two explosions took place in Connaught Place in which at least 10 people were injured.

The two in Connaught place tokk place at the Central Park near Palika Bazaar and the second at Barakhamba Road. According to some eyewitnesses explosives was kept in a dustbin in Central Park of Connaught Place.

Police say the first blast in Karol Bagh was the result of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinder explosion while while it is still not immediately clear blasts, in Greater Kailash-I and Connaught Place, were terror blasts.

There were two blasts in GK-I with the first one taking place near Levi's store and the other blast took place near the Prince Pan Corner. Eyewitnesses claim explosives were loaded on a scooter. The blasts were of low intensity and ball bearings were used to maximize the impact.

All the blast sites were popular shopping destinations, and all of them were teeming with people on weekend shopping.

Senior Police officials including Joint Commissioner of Police Karnail Singh rushed to the spot in the central district and were assessing the situation.

Police asked people not to panic. Joint Commissioner of Police Ajay Kashyap said an unexploded bomb was recovered near India Gate.

More details are awaited.

PM condemns serial blasts in Delhi, appeals for calm:
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has strongly condemned the serial blasts in the national capital Saturday evening and appealed to the people to maintain calm. He expressed grief over the loss of lives in blasts, a PMO spokesman said.

Blasts a dastardly act:
Sonia Congress President Sonia Gandhi has described the serial blasts in Delhi as a "dastardly" and act cowardice". She said those behind the blasts will not be spared and they have no place in civilized society.