15 years of German Bakery blast | Rising from the ashes: As wounds heal, memories of a bitter past linger strong

The blast claimed 17 lives, including five foreign nationals and a staff member and injured over 50 others.

“It was one of those typically busy weekends. The tables were full, and there was a constant flow of people coming in and out. Through the steady stream of customers, a person entered, seemingly unremarkable among the diverse clientele that typically frequented the bakery. He carried a bag and placed it under one of the tables. In a busy place like ours, with so many tourists often temporarily leaving their bags while ordering, it didn’t immediately raise alarms. However, the person left, blending into the crowd outside without taking the bag. Our staff noticed the unattended bag after some time and intended to check for identification while attempting to open it, the package exploded. It was around 7.15 pm, “ explained Snehal Kharose, founder of the German Bakery.

The German Bakery blast, also known as the 2010 Pune bombing, was a terror attack, which shook the city to its core, it happens to be the first major terror attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The blast claimed 17 lives, including five foreign nationals and a staff member and injured over 50 others.

Islamist groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the bombing. Mirza Himayat Baig, a resident of Maharashtra, was arrested after investigators found explosives at his home and Abdul Samad, a resident of Bhatkal, a coastal town in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, was identified as the prime suspect.

The three-year closure following the blast left many wondering if the establishment would ever return. “We were initially hesitant to start again, would people visit us after such a traumatizing incident? But to our surprise, we have witnessed rising footfalls over the years after reopening in 2013,” said Kharose.

“While the demographic has shifted with fewer foreign tourists compared to its pre-2010 heyday, the bakery has found a new identity. Our clientele now includes college students, young professionals, and families. They visit not just for the culinary experience but also for the story of resilience this place represents,” said Kunal Udane, current owner of the German Bakery. “To avoid repetition of any untoward incident we have weekly Police checks, monthly bomb squad visits and regular checking is done by our private security agency.”

The three-year closure following the blast left many wondering if the establishment would ever return.

“Every morning when I unlock the eatery’s doors, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come,” says Tukaram Bhekane, manager at the German Bakery. “The spirit of this place is different now, but somewhat stronger.”

“The eatery stands as a testament to resilience, having risen from the ashes of what was Pune’s first brush with terror. This place represents Pune’s unbreakable spirit. Every time I visit with my friends here, I tell them – this is where we choose hope over fear,’ said Payal Sharma, who has been visiting the place since its reopening in 2013.