‘Will spare no effort’: India promises Israel after blast near embassy in Delhi

The explosion coincides with the anniversary of India and Israel establishing full diplomatic relations on this day in 1992.

Hours after a “very low intensity” explosive device went off near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, India promised the “fullest protection” for Israel’s mission and diplomats and pledged to spare no effort to trace the perpetrators.

Police gather at a street after an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.(AFP)

“We take this very seriously,” external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted, announcing his phone call about the explosion outside the Israeli embassy to his counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi.

“Assured him of the fullest protection for the Embassy and Israeli diplomats. Matter is under investigation and no effort will be spared to find the culprits,” Jaishankar said after security personnel cordoned off the road leading to the embassy and placed airports on alert.

No one was injured but window panes of three cars parked near the embassy were shattered, witnesses said.

The explosion coincided with the anniversary of India and Israel establishing full diplomatic relations on January 29, 1992.

Besides Jaishankar’s phone call to his counterpart, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla spoke to Israeli foreign secretary Alon Ushpitz, while secretary Sanjay Bhattacharyya, who oversees relations with West Asia, spoke to Israeli ambassador Ron Malka.

In a brief video message issued late on Friday, Malka confirmed there were no casualties due to the blast. “There has been an explosion just outside the Israeli embassy in New Delhi. Fortunately, nobody is hurt, all the diplomats and their families are safe,” he said.

“This explosion happens exactly when we mark 29 years [of] the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and India, and especially in these days, the strong and warm friendship between Israel and India reflects itself,” he said.

“We get full cooperation and support from the local police, from the Indian authorities, the ministry of external affairs, the secretary of external affairs, the NSA – they all called their counterparts in Israel, offered their support,” Malka added.

The Israeli embassy said in a statement that the blast occurred at around 5 pm. “We are working with Indian authorities to find the perpetrators and the motive behind this attack,” the statement said.

Jaishankar had assured his counterpart Ashkenazi that “Indian authorities are committed to the security of all Israeli diplomatic staff and will continue to act resolutely to locate those involved in the explosion”, it said.

Ashkenazi thanked Jaishankar and promised full cooperation and any help required from Israel.

Reuters quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that although there were no casualties, “India and all elements in Israel regard the explosion as a terrorist incident".

Delhi Police initially indicated the blast could be mischief. “Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation,” a police statement said minutes after the explosion at 5.05 pm on APJ Abdul Kalam Road, often referred to by its previous name Aurangzeb Road.

Quoting a police officer, news agency ANI said the explosive device could have been dropped in a flower pot on the pavement close to the embassy from a moving car.

A senior home ministry official said authorities hadn’t ruled out anything, including a terror attack or mischief.

“...considering the blast has taken place in the VVIP (high security) zone, all agencies are coordinating to probe the incident,” said an officer.

Union home minister Amit Shah and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were briefed about the incident.

The last attack on an Israeli diplomat in the Indian capital was in February 2012, when a bomb, placed on diplomat Tal Yehoshua Koren’s car, went off when she was on her way to pick up her children from school. She sustained injuries in the attack.

The explosive device in that attack was described by the police as a sticky bomb that was attached to the car using a magnet, allegedly by suspects travelling on a motorcycle.

Delhi Police, which had filed charges in this case, had claimed to have identified four Iranians in the plot. A probe team was sent to Tehran for investigations but could not make headway in this case.

Only one person, an Indian journalist, was arrested for helping the Iranian nationals and was later released on bail.