In a significant turn of events regarding the investigation into the blast near the Israeli Embassy, the Delhi Police officially registered an FIR against unidentified individuals on December 30, 2023. The explosion occurred at the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on December 26, 2023, prompting a detailed inquiry.
The FIR has been filed under Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act at the Tughlaq Road police station. Responding to a call reporting the blast on the evening of December 26, the Delhi Police Crime Unit team and forensics team swiftly reached the Israel Embassy, as reported by the news agency ANI.
To date, six suspects and 14 auto drivers have undergone police interrogation. The investigation is now meticulously examining routes from Jamia to the Israeli embassy, involving the scrutiny of footage from approximately 150 CCTVs. The focus of suspicion centers on an individual of tall stature, identified as exhibiting suspicious behavior in the CCTV footage.
The technical team of the Delhi Police has been actively analysing dump data, leading to the identification of over 100 suspicious phone numbers. Efforts are underway to extract more information about these numbers, some of which were recently deactivated.
Forensic experts from the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Delhi Police collected samples of leaves and soil from the blast site. The NSG bomb squad team is expected to submit a detailed sealed report to the Delhi Police, offering critical insights into the case.
Eyewitness accounts have played a pivotal role in shaping the investigation. A security official near the embassy vividly recalled the incident, stating, “I heard a loud noise at around 5 p.m. The noise was similar to a tire burst. I also saw smoke near a tree.”
#WATCH | Delhi Police Crime Unit team and forensics team near the Israel Embassy in Delhi to hold a probe after a call was received about a blast today evening pic.twitter.com/nJjDlIWZsF
— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2023
While two individuals were initially singled out as suspects based on CCTV footage, their involvement remains unconfirmed. The investigation team, comprising the Delhi Police, the Special Cell, the Dog Squad, and officials from the NIA, continues to explore various angles to establish a concrete link to the blast.
This incident follows a minor IED blast of “very low intensity” near the Israel embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road on January 29, 2021. The probe was transferred to the NIA from Delhi Police within days of the incident. Notably, the blast occurred during the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Rajpath, coinciding with the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. Although no injuries were reported, some vehicles were damaged.
We can confirm that around 5:20 there was a blast at close proximity to the embassy. The Delhi police and the security team are still investigating the situation: Israel embassy Spox Guy Nir https://t.co/Y34ynkhSGs
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 26, 2023
In light of this incident and ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas, security measures around the Israeli embassy have been significantly heightened. Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to India, Ohad Nakash Kaynar, assured the safety of embassy personnel, stating, “All our workers are safe, and all our diplomats are safe. Our security teams are working in full cooperation with the local Delhi security, and they will investigate the matter further.”
