Just after Tuesday’s explosion near the Israeli embassy in Delhi, Israel’s National Security Council issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India. The council said the explosion could have been a “possible terrorist attack”.
The low-intensity blast occurred around 5:48 pm near the embassy in Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave. Israeli embassy spokesman Guy Nir confirmed the blast, saying “Delhi police and security team are still investigating the situation”. No one was injured in the explosion.
Tuesday’s recommendations by Israel’s National Security Council (NSC), which came at a time of “repetition” concerns, concern New Delhi in particular. Israeli nationals have been warned to try to avoid visiting crowded places (malls and markets) and places that cater to Westerners/Jews and Israelis. They were also asked to be on high alert in public places (including restaurants, hotels, pubs, etc.).
The recommendations also suggest avoiding the open display of Israeli symbols, refraining from participating in unsecured large-scale events, and avoiding posting itineraries on social media, as well as real-time photos and visit details.
From the beginning of the war, the NSC warned Israelis to reconsider all their trips abroad and urged those who needed to travel overseas to avoid outward displays of their Jewish and Israeli identity. This came amid rising anti-Semitism around the world.
The explosion is being investigated by the Delhi Police, which went to the scene with its bomb disposal squad and the fire department. A letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found when officials combed the area.
They also found a flag wrapped with a letter. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has also examined the spot, a senior Delhi Police officer said.
Security has been beefed up around the embassy and other Israeli facilities.
This is not the first security threat to the Israeli embassy. In 2021, there was an explosion in front of the Israeli embassy. Investigating officials claimed that the attack was carried out by a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and that the bomb was planted by a local Indian Shiite module.
In February 2012, the wife of an Israeli military attache was injured in a car bomb attack in Delhi.
