Explosion near Israel embassy in Delhi triggers advisory for Israelis in India

In response to the bomb explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday (December 26), the Israel National Security Council has issued a precautionary advisory for Israelis staying in India, with a special focus on those in Delhi.

The advisory urges them to steer clear of crowded areas and locations commonly frequented by Western or Israeli visitors.

The Delhi Police were alerted on Tuesday when a call reported a blast near the Israel Embassy in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic area during the evening.

What happened

• The Israeli embassy verified that a blast occurred near the consulate building on Tuesday evening.

• "We can confirm that around 5:08 PM, there was a blast in close proximity to the embassy. The Delhi police and the security team are still investigating the situation," the embassy's spokesperson said, reported ANI.

• The Delhi Police received notification of the blast behind the embassy situated in the Chanakyapuri area, known for its diplomatic presence in the national capital.

• The explosion was reported through an unidentified caller to the Delhi Fire Service at around 6 pm on Tuesday, with the caller asserting that the explosion occurred on an empty plot behind the Israeli embassy.

• According to reports, two individuals were seen on CCTV near the site of the explosion, and authorities are actively working to trace their actions and arrest them.

• The Delhi Police is carefully examining footage from surrounding cameras to piece together the suspects' path to the embassy and identify any potential associates.

• After the blast, the area was temporarily sealed off and later reopened. On Wednesday morning, a specialized team from the National Security Guard (NSG) arrived at the location for further investigation.

Letter found

• According to reports, a letter wrapped in an Israeli flag was discovered near the blast site, specifically addressed to the Ambassador of the Israeli embassy.
• The Delhi Police have forwarded pertinent evidence for forensic examination.

Israel's Deputy Ambassador to India, Ohad Nakash Kaynar, assured on Tuesday that the employees and diplomats at the Israel embassy are unharmed, and their security teams are currently looking into the incident.

Israel has advised its citizens in India, particularly in New Delhi, to be vigilant. The explosion "might have been an attack," as stated in a release by Israel's National Security Council issued through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Amid a surge in anti-Semitic attacks following Israel's counteroffensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Israeli missions worldwide are on high alert.

In January 2021, a minor explosion occurred near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, causing no injuries. An Israeli official stated that, at that time, Israel treated the blast as a terrorist incident.