New Delhi:
There has been an explosion in an Israeli diplomat's car very near Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7 Race Course Road residence this afternoon. Explosives have been found at the site of the blast and four people, including a woman diplomat - Tal Yeshova - have been injured. Police say she was on her way to pick her children from school when the incident took place. She is undergoing spinal surgery at a private hospital in the capital. Her condition was described as "critical but stable" by doctors.
(First Pics)The three other people- Manoj Sharma ,the 44-year-old driver of the car, and two occupants of another car - Arun Sharma and Manjeet Singh - are in the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital with splinter injuries. The police described the injuries as "minor".
The blast happened at a petrol station at about 3 pm today barely 200 metres from the Prime Minister's residence. The car, a Toyota Innova, went up in flames and was completely burnt down. It was towed away late this evening for further investigations.
(See mobile phone video of the car blast)Senior police officials rushed to the spot and the entire area was cordoned off. An eyewitness told reporters, "We heard a blast and came here to see what happened. We saw the car burning. There were 2 people in the car. Bystanders pulled them out. "
(Eyewitness account)Initial reports said the blast was caused by a CNG cylinder that burst, but traces of explosives were soon found by forensic experts on the site. Sources say sophisticated material was used. Delhi Police sources say there is no CCTV footage that they are aware of. They're not sure if the Israeli embassy's security cameras caught the explosion.
Eyewitnesses told investigators that a motorcycle was seen following the car minutes before the explosions and the motorcyclist was spotted sticking something on the car. Delhi's Police Commissioner BK Gupta said the Special cell of Delhi Police is investigating the case. Giving details of the incident, he said, "It may have been some kind of a magnetic device which was used to target the car. The CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratories) team is examining the car. What explosives were used will be known after further investigation."
(Watch: Delhi Police Chief on Israeli embassy car blast)
ISRAEL BLAMES IRANIsrael has blamed the Shia-militant group Hezbollah for today attacks in India and Georgia. An attempt to bomb an embassy car in the Georgian capital Tbilisi had failed and the device was defused.
"Iran, which stands behind these attacks, is the biggest exporter of terrorism in the world," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding, "We will continue to act with a strong arm, methodically and patiently, against international terrorism that originates from Iran."
(Read)In Tel Aviv, Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said, "Israel and citizens face terror inside and outside of Israel everyday. We know how to identify who is responsible and who carries it out."
Iran has rubbished Israeli accusations about its alleged involvement in the attacks in India and Georgia, saying they are "untrue and sheer lies."
"Any terrorist attack is condemned (by Iran) and we strongly reject the untrue comments by an Israeli official," Iran's Ambassador to India Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh told IRNA, the Iranian news agency.
Israel had put its foreign missions on high alert ahead of the anniversary of the February 12, 2008 assassination in Syria of the military mastermind of Hezbollah, Imad Moughniyeh - an attack blamed on the Jewish state.
"This is a very grave evening for us. Our hearts and minds and souls are with her ( the injured diplomat) and we wish her a speedy recovery. We do not have any doubt who is behind it. Its the same agency which has been calling for the destruction of the Jewish state, " Israeli Ambassador to India Alon Ushpiz told NDTV. "I want to emphasize that we - Indian and Israelis - share a lot in common against the daily menace of terrorism. We have full confidence in Indian authorities and a high level of cooperation with them, " he added.
(Israeli Ambassador to India speaks to NDTV)External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna said, "I have just spoken to the Israeli Foreign Minister and reassured him that the law of the land will take its course, and the investigation has already started. We will continue with it, and keep him posted."
(Watch)All consulates and embassies across India are also on high alert after today's car blast.
US, UK CONDEMN THE ATTACKSCondemning the attack on the Israeli diplomat, US Secretary of State Hillary in a statement said, "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the bombing of an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in India and the attempted attack on Israeli Embassy personnel in Georgia. The scourge of terrorism is an affront to the entire international community. The United States places a high priority on the safety and security of diplomatic personnel around the world and we stand ready to assist with any investigation of these cowardly actions. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured personnel in New Delhi and their loved ones."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague also issued a statement. "I was shocked and appalled to hear of the attack today on an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in New Delhi and the failed attack on another vehicle in Tbilisi. Our thoughts are with those injured and their families. This Government condemns terrorism in all forms. We urge both the Indian and Georgian authorities to fully investigate these deliberate attacks on diplomatic staff," he said.