NEW DELHI, Jan 29: Airports, important installations and government buildings have been put on high alert following the IED blast near the Israel Embassy, outside Jindal House, in New Delhi on Friday evening.
The explosion caused by a “very low-intensity improvised device” shattered the windscreens of three cars parked in the area, Delhi Police officials said adding that there were no injuries.
Israel said it is treating the blast as a terrorist incident. “Israel is treating a small bomb blast near the Israeli embassy in Delhi today, which did not injure anyone, as a terrorist incident,” media reports said quoting an Israeli official.
The Delhi Police said that the low-intensity improvised device went off at 5.05pm near 5, APJ Abdul Kalam Road near Jindal House. No one was injured and there was no damage to any property but window panes of three vehicles parked nearby were shattered, officials said.
Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation, Delhi Police said in a statement.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Delhi Police commissioner SN Shrivastava and chief of the Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar have briefed Union home minister Amit Shah about the blast.
The blast came on the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Israel on January 29, 1992.
The investigation is being monitored by all rank agencies.
The National Investigative Agency (NIA) has also been roped in, officials said.
The police said CCTV cameras on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road are being checked to ascertain the sequence of events, officials said.
Forensic experts of Delhi Police have also scrutinized the spot to lift the samples of the explosive, the police said.
It is not yet clear if any terror organisation or an individual was behind the blast. Preliminary investigations reveal that the quality of explosive used in the blast was of low-grade and even the quantity was minimum.
The entire area has been cordoned-off and heavy deployment of police forces has been made. A team of the Central Reserve Police Force has also been rushed to beef up security around the Israeli embassy.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi about the explosion outside the Israeli Embassy in Delhi and assured him of the fullest protection for the Embassy and Israeli diplomats.
Police said the blast occurred 150 meters away from the Israeli Embassy, about two kilometres away from Vijay Chowk, where the Beating Retreat ceremony, attended by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was being held.
(Manas Dasgupta)