Israel issues advisory after blast near mission, cops scour for clues

The Israeli embassy on Wednesday issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India after a low-intensity blast near the country’s mission in the high-security Lutyens’ zone the previous day, and the Delhi Police and other Indian counterterror agencies, including NIA and NSG, scoured the area to ascertain the nature of the explosion.

- Karn Pratap Singh

The teams lifted some exhibits from the spot at Prithviraj Road — behind the Israeli embassy, whose entrance is on APJ Abdul Kalam Road — where the sound was heard on Tuesday evening. Investigators said they would have to wait for the outcome of forensic examination to get more clues, and that initial CCTV screenings in the vicinity had thrown up four persons of interest who may be linked to the incident that appeared to be an attempt to either attract attention or sound a warning.

One of the exhibits found at the spot was a single-page letter typed in English, addressed to the Israeli ambassador, that spoke of Israel’s actions against Palestine and along the Gaza strip in the war raging in West Asia since October 7.

The letter prompted the Israeli embassy to call the incident a “possible terror attack”, and the mission in its advisory asked citizens to avoid public places or crowded events.

Israel’s National Security Council, in the advisory issued in Hebrew, also urged Israelis living in India to avoid going to places identified as being frequented by Western or Jewish and Israeli elements.

Israeli citizens should maintain increased vigilance in public places, including restaurants, hotels and bars, and avoid displaying Israeli symbols, the advisory said.

It further cautioned Israeli nationals to avoid participating in “events with many participants that are not secure”, and to avoid posting details of their trips on social media, both before the journey and in real time.

Meanwhile, with no visible residue of any explosion or lethal material found during the search operation that continued on Wednesday, and with no damage to life or property, a first information report (FIR) was not registered by the Delhi Police in connection with the blast till late on Wednesday evening, officers aware of the matter said.