New Delhi: A “crude bomb” may have caused the “low-intensity blast” near the Israel embassy Tuesday, ThePrint has learnt.
While the Delhi Police had maintained that “prima facie” no residue or remnant was found near the explosion site, initial investigation has found that a “chemical explosion” had indeed taken place there.
Sources said that they recovered “shrapnel and ball bearings” from the site, which are commonly used in crude bombs along with nails, metal pieces and pellets.
“The wall at the explosion site also showed signs of impact. There was also smoke. Forensic analysis will reveal the composition details. It wasn’t a small thing like a firecracker,” a source said.
Crude bombs are less sophisticated than improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which usually contain RDX and have a higher impact. They often resemble “sutli bombs” (firecrackers) and mostly work on impact and have no timers or detonators.
Crude bombs can be concealed in anything from a packet to a box. However, crude bombs can also contain military-grade and high-end explosives in smaller quantities as well to minimise the impact. They do not require much skill to make.
The blast near the Israel embassy was reported around 5.53 pm Tuesday, after which the Delhi Police, Special Cell, fire department, Bomb Squad and the National Security Guard (NSG) reached the spot to investigate.
ThePrint reported earlier, that an “abusive” letter addressed to the Israel Ambassador was found near the explosion site and a little-known outfit “Sir Allah Resistance” claimed the attack.
The Delhi Police are now looking for the “prime suspect,” who was seen in an autorickshaw going from Jamia Nagar to Prithviraj Road. However, sources said that it was too early to say if he was involved in the blast. Some people have been questioned and cleared, they added.
The NSG has submitted a preliminary report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In cases like these, the NSG prepares a post-blast analysis report after searching the site of the explosion and also talking to witnesses. The team collects samples from the site with the help of an explosive-detector kit. However, this is solely for aid in the investigation and not for evidence purposes.
Forensic teams have also visited the spot and samples have been collected. All of these samples will be sent to forensic laboratories for further analysis. Meanwhile, over three days after the blast was reported, Delhi Police is yet to lodge an FIR in the matter.
Also read: Ahead of blast, Israel Embassy received ‘threat messages’, flagged security concerns in October
Similarities with 2021 case
The Tuesday incident is similar to the 2021 case, where a crude bomb exploded about 100 metres from the Israel embassy. No one was hurt in that incident.
The Delhi Police had filed an FIR within 24 hours and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe within a few days.
A letter addressed to the Israel Ambassador was also found in the 2021 case, which claimed that the blast was revenge for the death of “Iranian martyrs Qasem Soleimani and Dr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh”.
The two suspects in the 2021 case — men in masks — were seen in an autorickshaw going to Jamia Nagar. They have not been arrested yet.
Delhi Police’s Special Cell did arrest four students from Kargil, but they were released by a court after the prosecution couldn’t submit substantial evidence against them.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also read: After recording witness statements, police await forensic reports in Israel embassy blast case