Srinagar, July 11 (PTI): In a fresh wave of terrorist violence, at least seven persons, including five tourists from West Bengal, were killed and 37 injured in a string of grenade attacks in the heart of this city today.

In the first of five such attacks, militants hurled a grenade at a vehicle carrying tourists near Sultan Bakery at Dal Gate at 11.50 hours, killing six persons -- five of them from West Bengal -- and injuring 12, Inspector General of Police S M Sahai said. Among the dead were three women.

The condition of two of the 12 injured was critical, Sahai said. Nine of the injured were from West Bengal while two were locals and another a resident of Udhampur.

Another person, whose identity could not be confirmed, was killed and 11 persons were injured when a vehicle caught fire following two grenade attacks at Lal Chowk and Abi Guzar in the city centre, officials said.

In another incident, a car was blown up by a grenade at Residency Road in Regal Chowk and four persons, including a security personnel on holiday, were injured, they said.

Nitin Roy Shrivastava, a security personnel from Lucknow currently posted in Ladakh, was on holiday with his family when militants hurled a grenade at his vehicle bearing a Haryana registration number.

Shrivastava's two children and driver were also injured in the attack, while his wife had a narrow escape as she had got out of the car for shopping.

Ten persons were injured in the fifth grenade attack at the Tourist Reception Centre, the officials said.