Bhopal, March 8 (IANS): Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the perpetrators of the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train bomb blast had suspected Islamic State (IS) links.

Chouhan also revealed that the explosion was caused by a pipe bomb, whose pictures were sent to Syria through their mobile phones. A timer was also used in the bomb.

"The terrorists planted pipe bombs in the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train and have links to the IS and we have proof. The explosives discovered have IS markings," he told reporters.

The three terrorists arrested from Pipariya in Hoshangabad district -- mastermind Atif Mujaffar, Danish and Sayed Mir Hussain -- hail from Uttar Pradesh. They learnt the technique of making a bomb from the internet.

"The terrorists reached Bhopal from Lucknow by the Pushpak Express on Tuesday morning and placed the bomb on the baggage rack above the seat in the passenger train around 7.30 a.m. The terrorists had set a two-hour timer," the Chief Minister said.

According to Chouhan, the bomb caused less damage as it was placed above and the effect could have been greater if it was put under the seat.

He added that the terrorists had plans to escape to Lucknow via Jabalpur before they were arrested by the police.

On Tuesday morning, a blast occurred in the general compartment of the 59320 Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train near Jabdi station in Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh, which injured 10 persons.