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28-12-2023
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: An explosion near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday did not kill or wound any staff members, authorities said, adding that investigations into its cause were ongoing.
Officials were still inspecting the area but it had been reopened to the general public. There was no information suggesting anyone on the street had been hurt.
Israel urged its citizens in India, specifically in New Delhi, to exercise caution. The blast “may have been an attack”, Israel’s National Security Council said in a statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Israeli missions around the world have been on alert amid a rise in antisemitic attacks since Israel launched its counteroffensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
“We can confirm that around 5:20 pm there was a blast at close proximity to the embassy,” Israeli Embassy spokesperson Guy Nir told media, adding that local police and security teams were investigating.
Nothing had been found in the search operation three hours after the blast, an official involved in the investigation told Reuters.
In January 2021, a small bomb went off near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi without harming anyone. An Israeli official said at the time that Israel was treating the blast as a terrorist incident.
According to the Times of India, the Delhi police on Tuesday said they have received a call a blast near the Israel embassy in Chanakyapuri area.
Top officials have reached the spot and are investigating the matter.
Investigating officials have recovered a letter addressed to the Israeli Ambassador near the embassy premises, said several media reports citing police sources.
Guy Nir, spokesperson of the Israeli embassy, confirmed that a loud blast heard in the vicinity around 5pm. Yes there was an incident. We are not sure what it is exactly yet…the police and our security team are investigating the matter, Nir told reporters.
The Israeli foreign ministry said no embassy staff was hurt in the incident and that Indian and Israeli agencies are cooperating to probe the matter.
“All our diplomats and workers are safe. Our security teams are working with local Delhi security”, said Deputy Chief of the mission Ohad Nakash Kaynar.
Bomb scare in Mumbai
The bomb scare comes hours after a major security scare in Mumbai when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received a threatening email outlining a plan to detonate 11 bombs across the financial capital, when HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank listed as potential targets.
The sender also demanded the registration of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.
