Blast outside Israel embassy in Delhi, India assures full protection of diplomats

Jan. 29: A minor IED blast took place outside the Israeli Embassy in the heart of Delhi on Friday evening. The low-intensity explosion took place near the embassy located at Aurangzeb Road in the national capital. No injuries have been reported in the blast. The blast took place 1.4 kilometres from Vijaya Chowk, where President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior members of the government had gathered, amid extremely heavy security, for the Beating Retreat ceremony that follows the Republic Day parade.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday he spoke to Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi and assured him that protection would be provided to the staff and diplomats. India was taking the matter very seriously, he said, and an investigation into it was underway.

Spoke just now to Israeli FM @Gabi_Ashkenazi about the explosion outside the Israeli Embassy. We take this very seriously. Assured him of the fullest protection for the Embassy and Israeli diplomats. Matter is under investigation and no effort will be spared to find the culprits.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 29, 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on Friday briefed by the Delhi Police about the IED blast. The minister has directed the police to take all necessary steps to investigate and find out the perpetrators of the crime. As part of the SOP (standard operating procedure) in such situations, an alert has been issued at all airports, important installations and government buildings in the country, and “enhanced security measures have been put in place.