RNS: A minor explosion has been reported outside the Israel Embassy in Delhi at around 5.15 pm on Friday; no injuries were reported, police said.
The blast took place outside the embassy on APJ Abdul Kalam road, near a pavement and damaged the windscreen of a few cars. The area around the embassy was sealed off after the explosion.
A letter in an envelope addressed “to Israel Embassy ambassador” has been found at the spot, police sources said. According to the media reports, the letter contains a threat and describes the explosion as a “trailer”, the sources said. It also refers to two “Iranian martyrs”, Qasem Soleimani and Dr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the sources said.
Anil Mittal Additional PRO Delhi Police said, a low-intensity improvised device went off outside 5 Abdul Kalam Road near Jindal House. The President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and the three Service Chiefs were a few kilometers away on Rajpath at the time, attending the Beating Retreat ceremony.
“No injury to any person is there, nor was any damage to property witnessed except window panes of three vehicles parked nearby. Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation,” Mittal said.
Forensic experts found broken pieces of a cold drink’s can and ball bearings from the spot, sources said.
“Prime facie it appears that explosives and ball bearings were stuffed in the can. It was planted in such a manner that the impact was felt towards the road. The ball bearings hit the cars. Police have not found any device or battery at the spot,” he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi soon after the incident. “We take this very seriously,” said the minister and assured him of the fullest protection to its diplomats in India.
In a statement, Israel’s foreign ministry said that “the incident is under investigation by the authorities in India, who are in contact with the relevant Israeli authorities”.
Meanwhile, Israel is treating the explosion as a “terrorist” incident, reported Reuters news agency citing an unnamed Israeli official.
