Blast near Israel embassy: FIR lodged against ‘unknown’ people, 6 suspects quizzed

Following an explosion near the Israeli embassy in Delhi, the Delhi Police has initiated legal proceedings against unidentified individuals and interrogated approximately six suspects, as reported by officials on Saturday.

An official statement revealed that the case is set to be transferred to the Special Cell, the anti-terror unit of the Delhi Police, in order to delve into the underlying conspiracy.

The FIR was officially filed on Friday night under Section 3 (punishment for causing an explosion) of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint leading to the filing of the FIR was lodged by a police officer at the Tughlak Road Police Station.

The explosion transpired on Tuesday evening in the vicinity between the boundary walls of a house identified as plot number 4, known as Nanda’s House, and the Central Hindi Training Institute situated on plot number 2A on Prithviraj Road.

The area, characterized by bushes, plants, and trees, lacks CCTV surveillance. Located behind the Israeli embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, which runs parallel to Prithviraj Road, the blast caused no injuries.

An “abusive” letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was discovered near the blast site, containing language associated with an entity called Sir Allah Resistance. The letter, written in English, referenced terms such as “Zionists,” “Palestine,” and “Gaza.”

Sources indicated that an FIR was deemed necessary due to the presence of “crucial evidence” pointing towards a plot to threaten the Israeli envoy. Delhi Police scrutinized footage from multiple CCTV cameras around the blast site, identifying a suspect arriving in an autorickshaw from Jamia Nagar. Ten autorickshaw drivers, including the one who transported the suspect, have been questioned.

Although police recovered a broken watch dial and steel bearings from the blast site, it remains premature to determine their involvement in the explosion. Investigative officials are awaiting reports from the National Security Guard’s laboratory to ascertain the components used in the blast.

Statements from approximately twelve witnesses who heard the loud blast noise have been recorded. These witnesses reported observing a vehicle that broke down near the blast site.

(With PTI inputs)