A senior Indian official says a suspected bomb blast outside the High Court building in New Delhi Wednesday killed at least nine people and wounded 45 others.

Home Secretary R.K. Singh said an explosive device hidden in a briefcase possibly caused the morning blast. He said it hit as people gathered outside a gate leading to the court.

Indian television showed images of ambulances taking victims from the scene.

No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion.

It is the first major terror attack in India since near-simultaneous triple bomb blasts targeted India's financial capital, Mumbai in July, killing some 20 people. No one has been arrested in that case.

Wednesday's blast also is the second explosion at the High Court this year. In May, a small bomb exploded outside the same court, but did not cause any casualties.