A low-intensity explosion was reported at Abdul Kalam Road near the Israel Embassy on Friday evening. No injuries have been reported and initial investigation has revealed that a bomb was planted in a flower pot on a road divider. The windshields of three cars on the opposite carriageway were damaged in the explosion.
During the investigation, a team of Delhi Police also found a letter addressed to embassy officials in an envelope.
The incident took place when the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and the three chiefs of the defence forces were present a few kilometers away at the Beating Retreat ceremony.
Meanwhile, news agency Reuters citing an official on condition of anonymity reported that Israel is treating the blast as a “terrorist incident”.
Additional PRO (Delhi Police) Anil Mittal said the incident took place at 5.05 pm when a low-intensity improvised device went off outside 5 Abdul Kalam Road near Jindal House. “No injury to any person is there, nor any damage to property was witnessed except window panes of three vehicles parked nearby. Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation,” he said.
After receiving a PCR call, local district police and officials of the Special Cell and intelligence agencies reached the spot and called in forensic experts teams. The area has been cordoned off and officers are scanning CCTV cameras installed nearby to ascertain the sequence of events, police said.
On February 13, 2012, Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua and an Indian driver of the embassy vehicle were among four people injured in a blast after a magnetic bomb stuck to the vehicle went off in the capital.
S Jaishankar dialls Israeli FM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that he spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi regarding the explosion outside the Israeli embassy and assured him of “fullest protection” to diplomats and the mission.
Spoke just now to Israeli FM @Gabi_Ashkenazi about the explosion outside the Israeli Embassy. We take this very seriously. Assured him of the fullest protection for the Embassy and Israeli diplomats. Matter is under investigation and no effort will be spared to find the culprits.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 29, 2021
“Spoke just now to Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi about the explosion outside the Israeli Embassy. We take this very seriously. Assured him of the fullest protection for the Embassy and Israeli diplomats,” Jaishankar said in a tweet.
