Hours after a suspected explosion outside the Israel Embassy in New Delhi and a letter addressed to the ambassador at the site, Tel Aviv has issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India, suspecting that the blast near the embassy was “a possible terror attack”. An advisory issued by Israel’s National Security Council urged Israeli citizens in India, particularly those in New Delhi, to avoid crowded locations such as malls and markets.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police intensified their probe into a low-intensity blast that occurred near the Israel Embassy here, and sources said two youths were caught on camera walking on the road close to the spot shortly before the explosion.
The National Security Guard (NSG) along with forensic experts visited the spot on Wednesday morning and collected samples of leaves and grass that they suspected might contain chemicals used in the explosion, police sources said, adding a team of dog squad by the NSG also inspected the spot.
The advisory issued by Israel’s National Security Council advised Israeli citizens in India to maintain increased vigilance in public places, including restaurants, hotels, and bars, and avoid displaying Israeli symbols. It further cautioned Israeli nationals to avoid participating in “events with many participants that are not secure” and to refrain from posting details of their trips on social media, both before the journey and in real-time.
Forensic experts have used magnetic gadgets to detect the intensity of the blast. CCTV footage has been recovered from near the spot in which two youths were found walking on the road shortly before the blast. “It is yet to be ascertained whether they are suspects,” sources said.
The security agencies have collected multiple CCTV footage from the lanes of Abdul Kalam Road and Prithviraj Road.
The Delhi Police will investigate “end-to-end encrypted calls” of active mobile numbers near the Israel Embassy as part of its probe into a low-intensity blast that occurred there on Tuesday night. Officials investigating the case suspect it was a well-orchestrated plan, knowing that no CCTV camera was installed on Prithviraj Road, police sources said on Wednesday. The police have intensified their probe after the blast and have identified two suspects who were caught on camera walking on the road close to the spot shortly before the explosion.
“It is hard to trace end-to-end encrypted calls, but with special investigative techniques and a dump of nearby numbers, we can trace who was near and around the area where a low-intensity blast occurred,” said a senior police official who requested anonymity.
The Delhi police also said that they are yet to register a first information report in connection with the alleged blast as no explosive substance or traces of the blast were found by forensic experts. Delhi police said that they have zeroed in on three to four people who were seen moving suspiciously after an explosion was reported outside the Israel Embassy.
Areas around the Israel embassy and Jewish establishments in Delhi have been put under the watch of the security personnel. Paramilitary personnel have been deployed at the embassy for further protection. The local police have been asked to increase the vigil in the national capital, an official said Wednesday.
Security officials who visited the spot said since no remnants of the explosive were found at the spot, the possibility of a “chemical explosion” cannot be ruled out. According to police officials, no CCTV cameras were installed behind the Israel Embassy where the blast took place. Around 5.30 pm, a low-intensity blast was heard close to the Israeli embassy in the high-security Lutyens’ zone, triggering concern among the Indian security and intelligence agencies. Central agencies, including the anti-terror National Investigation Agency (NIA), are probing the alleged blast.
No one was injured in the blast but an “abusive” letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found near the site, officials said.
The letter is “abusive” in nature. It has been sent to the forensic lab to check for fingerprints, they said. “It’s a one-page letter written in English. It is suspected to be related to some organization with the name ‘Sir Allah Resistance’, and the words like Zionists, Palestine, and Gaza mentioned in the letter,” a police source said Tuesday.
The explosion and the recovery of the letter are a grim reminder of the 2021 blast near the embassy in which some cars were damaged. The National Investigation Agency had probed the case. Security has been upped around the Israel embassy since the war between Israel and Hamas began earlier this year, the official said.
The incident occurred amid the Israel-Hamas conflict triggered by the October 7 terror attacks by the militant group.
