Explosion reported outside Israeli embassy in India

Delhi police deploy bomb squad following explosion outside of the Israeli embassy.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

An explosion was reported outside of the Israeli embassy in Delhi Tuesday evening, local authorities say.

According to embassy staff, a blast was heard just outside the embassy building, located in the Chanakyapuri neighborhood, at 5:08 p.m. local time.

“We can confirm that around 5:08 there was a blast in close proximity to the embassy. The Delhi police and the security team are still investigating the situation,’ an embassy spokesperson said.

The Delhi Fire Service and local police were dispatched to the scene of the explosion, along with a bomb squad to assess any possible threat.

Authorities say that no suspicious objects were found near the embassy, ANI reported.

“So far nothing has been found at the location,” Delhi Fire Services director Atul Garg said.

Reuters quoted Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) as saying that no embassy staff members were injured in the explosion.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown and Delhi police have launched an investigation of the incident.

Nearly three years ago, in January 2021, an explosion rattled the Israeli embassy in Delhi, leaving a crater and damaging three parked cars.

The blast was later found to have been caused by an improvised explosive device, and coincided with the 29th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Israel and India.

A letter was found near the scene of the explosion, vowing revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force.

Israel accused Iran of orchestrating the bombing.