Minor blast near Israeli embassy, nobody hurt
Aminor IED blast took place outside the Israeli embassy in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi on Friday, police said. The blast took place even as the Beating Retreat ceremony was going on at Rajpath, a few kilometres away.
Delhi Police Additional PRO Anil Mittal said initial impressions suggest that the blast, which took place near a pavement outside the embassy, could be an attempt to create a sensation. “A very low intensity improvised device went off at 5.05 pm. No injury to any person was reported, nor was there any damage to property except the glass panes of three vehicles parked nearby,” Mittal said.
The Israeli foreign ministry said all its diplomats and embassy staff were “safe”. Quoting an Israeli official, Reuters reported, “Israel is treating a small bomb blast near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Friday, which did not injure anyone, as a terrorist
incident.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. “We take this very seriously. Assured him (Ashkenazi) of the fullest protection for the embassy and Israeli diplomats. No effort will be spared to find the culprits,” Jaishankar said.
After the incident, Home Minister Amit Shah has been in touch with the Delhi Police top brass and is constantly monitoring the situation.
The bomb disposal squad of the Delhi Police and forensic experts examined the blast site at APJ Abdul Kalam Road, a very high-security zone in the national capital.
Footage of CCTV cameras installed nearby are being scanned to ascertain the sequence of events.
“Concerned by the news of a blast near Israeli embassy in Delhi. Agencies are determining the nature and cause of the blast. Thankfully, no loss of life reported yet. Any attempt to disturb the peace of Delhi should be firmly dealt with,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
After the blast, the Central Industrial Security Force, which guards vital installations in the nuclear and aerospace domain, civil airports, and central government buildings has put on alert all its units across the country, official sources said. It has asked its personnel to maintain a “high level of alert”, they said.