Israel’s national security council issued an advisory on Tuesday urging its nationals in India, especially those living in New Delhi, to exercise caution, after an explosion was reported to have occured near the Israeli embassy on the same day.
Advisory
The advisory urges Israelis in India to avoid crowded areas, such as malls and markets, as well as sites associated with Jews and Israelis.
It called on its citizens to remain extra vigilant in public places. Moreover, it advised them to refrain from publicly displaying Israeli symbols, avoid crowded events that are not secured, and not share photos on social media that could reveal their location.
Blast Near Embassy
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police said it received a call around 5:47 p.m. which was transferred from Delhi Police’s PCR (police control room), about a blast near the Israel Embassy.
The police’s crime units and forensics teams reached the embassy to conduct a probe. Authorities did not find anything and no injuries were reported from the incident.
“So far nothing has been found at the location,” Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said.
“A PCR call was received conveying the information that a loud sound was heard from the back side of the Israel Embassy. Considering the sensitivity of the location and the mention of explosion-type sound, senior officers rushed to the location. In close follow-up, the dog squad, crime team and BDS team of Delhi Police reached the spot where the alleged sound of the explosion was reported to have been heard. The area was cordoned off and subjected to a thorough search,” the police said in a statement.
Ohad Nakash Kaynar, Israel’s deputy envoy to India, confirmed on Tuesday that all diplomats were safe and no one had been injured in the blast.
“This evening several minutes after 5, an explosion occurred in close proximity to the Embassy. All our diplomats and workers are safe. Our security teams are working in full cooperation with local Delhi security and they will investigate the matter further,” Kaynar said in a video.
Another report by the Indian Express reported that a typed letter containing “abusive” language, addressed to the Israeli ambassador, had been found. Investigators are currently working to determine if there is a connection between the letter and the explosion.
In an interview with Indian television, the embassy spokesperson, Guy Nir, said staff heard the explosion from within the building.
“Around 5:08 [p.m.], we heard a blast. We believed it to be close and later we found out it was in close proximity to the embassy. We have the Delhi Police and our security team over there investigating the situation,” Nir said.
2012 Blast
The attack on the Israeli embassy in India is not unprecedented. In February 2012, an explosion in a Toyota Innova car, carrying the Israeli defence attache’s wife, Tal Yehoshua Korene, took place.
The victim was left in a critical condition, having suffered serious spinal injuries from shrapnel.
Israel Advises its Citizens in India to Exercise Caution After Explosion Near Delhi Embassy
The advisory urges Israelis in India to avoid crowded areas, such as malls and markets, as well as sites associated with Jews and Israelis.
December 27, 2023
IMAGE SOURCE: PTIAreas around the Israel embassy and Jewish establishments in Delhi being investigated by security personnel.