New Delhi, India (CU)_ A small explosion went off near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi at 5.05 pm on Friday. According to the reports from the Delhi Police, a very low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated. The police reported that no other injuries or damages to any properties had been recorded, other than broken windscreens of cars parked nearby.
Delhi Police spokesperson Anil Mittal said, “A very low intensity improvised device went off… No injury to any person was reported… nor was there any damage to property, except the glass panes of three vehicles parked nearby”. The explosion took place 1.4 km from Vijay Chowk, where President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the government had assembled for the ceremony of Beating Retreat following the Republic Day parade in the midst of extremely tight security.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter and said that he had spoken to his Israeli peer, Gabi Ashkenazi, and assured the Embassy and diplomats of full security. He tweeted, “Spoke just now to Israeli Foreign Minister 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”.
Mr Ashkenazi responded to S Jaishankar’s tweet by saying that his government would completely collaborate to locate those involved in the blast. He said, “The Indian Foreign Minister assured me that the Indian authorities are committed to the security of all Israeli diplomatic staff and will continue to act resolutely to locate all those involved in the explosion. I thanked him and promised full cooperation and any help required from Israel”.
Dust and grass samples were gathered and submitted for analysis. Police sources reported that according to the initial investigation, the explosive had ball bearings as part of the makeup of the IED. The explosive was rolled up in a plastic bag and was left outside a nearby building just meters away from the embassy near a tree on the pavement. As part of the investigation, the police examined the CCTV footage of the site and found that a cab had dropped two individuals near the embassy. However, the police are still confused if they had any involvement in the explosion.
The whole place including the embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lane was sealed by the Delhi Police after the blast, and the spot was taken over by the senior police officers, the bomb squad and those from the Special Cell and other agencies. The blast took place on a day when India and Israel celebrated the 29th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
