Blast in an Israeli embassy car in Delhi triggers panic; three injured
An Israeli embassy car blew up on Monday in New Delhi, injuring one person, but the cause of the explosion was not immediately known, police said.
By PTI | Updated:
NEW DELHI: An Israeli embassy car on Monday exploded close to the mission here in a suspected coordinated terror attack after a car bomb involving an Israeli embassy vehicle in Georgian capital of Tbilisi was defused.
According to initial investigations, two motorcycle borne youths tailed the Israeli Embassy vehicle on Aurangzeb Road in the high security zone, not far from Prime Minister's residence, and allegedly placed "something" in the rear of the car when it stopped at a traffic signal.
Minutes later, there was an explosion and the Toyota innova bearing number 109-CD-35 went into flames.
Three persons including Administrative Attache of the Embassy received injuries in the incident at 3.15 PM near a petrol station, located 500 metres from the 7-Race Course Road official residence of the Prime Minister.
An indication that the incident in Delhi could be a part of targeted attacks on Israeli staff came when a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Jerusalem that there have been incidents in which embassy staff were targetted in Tbilisi and New Delhi.
The incident came a day after the fourth anniversary of the killing of Hezbollah's deputy leader Imad Mughniyah.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said two Israeli embassy employees were injured in the incident. "We have rushed bomb disposal squad to the spot. We are investigating the cause of fire," he said.
According to initial investigations, two motorcycle borne youths tailed the Israeli Embassy vehicle on Aurangzeb Road in the high security zone, not far from Prime Minister's residence, and allegedly placed "something" in the rear of the car when it stopped at a traffic signal.
Minutes later, there was an explosion and the Toyota innova bearing number 109-CD-35 went into flames.
Three persons including Administrative Attache of the Embassy received injuries in the incident at 3.15 PM near a petrol station, located 500 metres from the 7-Race Course Road official residence of the Prime Minister.
An indication that the incident in Delhi could be a part of targeted attacks on Israeli staff came when a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Jerusalem that there have been incidents in which embassy staff were targetted in Tbilisi and New Delhi.
The incident came a day after the fourth anniversary of the killing of Hezbollah's deputy leader Imad Mughniyah.
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Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said two Israeli embassy employees were injured in the incident. "We have rushed bomb disposal squad to the spot. We are investigating the cause of fire," he said.
First images of the blast: Joji Thomas Philip, ET Bureau
An eyewitness Ravir Singh, who is the owner of a nearby petrol pump, said he heard a loud noise following which he rushed to the spot.
"I was at my petrol pump. I heard a loud noise. I rushed to the spot and found a car in blaze. A fire tender from nearby airforce station was at the spot dousing the flame," Singh said.
Police said the four cars were damaged in the incident. There were conflicting versions of the incident with initial reports suggesting that the CNG cylinder kept at the back of the embassy's vehicle burst soon after it was re-filled at a nearby petrol station.
Fire brigade officials said the car caught fire and some reports also said there was a collision with another car.
According to eyewitnesses, the car had filled CNG at a petrol station and was on its way to the Embassy when the blast took place. The injured Israeli embassy attache was identified as Ms Tal (42).
"An Israeli diplomat is injured in a car explosion this afternoon," Israeli Embassy spokesperson David Goldfarb told PTI. He said, "we are in close touch with the local authorities to assess the situation".
Asked if there was a connection between the today's explosion and the Georgia incident, the spokesperson said, "we don't have any information so far. We don't know".
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Medical Superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, Dr T S Sidhu, said "three persons with splinter injuries have been brought. They will be discharged soon". They were identified as Manoj Sharma (40), Arun Sharma (40) and Manjeet Singh (75).A post blast team of the National Security Guard (NSG) was called in from Manesar to probe the incident.
Security and forensic officials examine a car belonging to the Israel Embassy after an explosion tore through that in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. The driver and a diplomat's wife were injured, according to Indian officials. (AP)
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