Blast near Israel embassy, letter to envoy spark panic

A low-intensity blast was heard near the Israel embassy in the high-security Luytens' zone on Tuesday evening, triggering concern among Indian security and intelligence agencies and prompting them to carry out an extensive search in the area.

- Karn Pratap Singh

During this operation, a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was recovered at the spot, police officers aware of the matter said.

Nobody was injured and no damage to property was reported from the site, officers said, adding that a high-alert was also sounded in the national capital following the explosion.

The incident comes nearly three years after a blast in the vicinity of the Israeli embassy during the Republic Day festivities week led to security around APJ Abdul Kalam Road, where the embassy is located, being significantly enhanced.

The embassy confirmed that an explosion occurred in its close proximity.

"This evening, several minutes after [5pm], an explosion occurred in close proximity to the embassy. All our workers are safe, 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," said Israel's deputy chief of mission, Ohad Nakash Kaynar.

A police officer, who asked not to be identified, said that their preliminary probe suggested that it could be a "high-intensity cracker blast" in a wooded area on Prithviraj Road behind the Israel embassy. A loud explosion was heard by a few people present at the embassy, a security guard deployed at a nearby building, and an on-duty police official who informed his seniors in the force and the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the officer added.