Police recover envelope addressed to Israeli Embassy from blast site, CCTV footage scanned
India

Police recover envelope addressed to Israeli Embassy from blast site, CCTV footage scanned

A minor IED blast took place near the Israeli Embassy in Delhi Friday evening. Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi promised full cooperation and any help in the investigation.

   

Security personnel inspect the area after a low intensity blast outside the Israeli Embassy, in New Delhi on 29 January 2021 | PTI

New Date: An envelop addressed to the Israeli Embassy and containing a note was found at the site of a minor IED blast near the mission in Delhi on Friday, sources said.

They said the envelope was addressed to embassy officials, but did not divulge any further details including content of the note.

“The envelope has been recovered from the blast site,” a source said.

Investigators scanned footage of CCTV cameras installed nearby and spotted a vehicle moving suspiciously near the embassy just before the explosion, sources said.

A minor IED blast took place near the Israeli Embassy in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi on Friday evening, police said. No one was injured.

Some cars were damaged in the blast in the very high-security zone. Delhi Police Additional PRO Anil Mittal said initial impressions suggest that it could be a mischievous attempt to create a sensation.

Delhi Police chief S N Shrivastava said that the force has registered a case and its Special Cell has started investigating the matter.

“Alon Ushpiz, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, and India’s foreign secretary Harsh Shringla, also spoke and agreed to cooperate,” the embassy said.

On Twitter, Israel FM Gabi Ashkenazi said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured him that Indian authorities will continue to act “resolutely” to trace all those involved in the explosion.

“The Indian FM assured me that the Indian authorities are committed to the security of all Israeli diplomatic staff and will continue to act resolutely to locate all those involved in the explosion. I thanked him and promised full cooperation and any help required from Israel,” he tweeted.

The blast took place when President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present a few kilometres away at the Beating Retreat ceremony at the culmination of the Republic Day celebrations.


Also read: Low-intensity blast outside Israel Embassy in Delhi, police say ‘act of mischief’