The Israeli National Security Council has issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India, suspecting a possible terror attack following an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.
No injuries were reported in the blast near the Israel embassy in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave and an "abusive" letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found near the site. Security has been beefed up around Chanakyapuri on Wednesday following the blast.
Israeli embassy spokesperson Guy Nir told PTI, "We can confirm that around 5:48 pm, there was a blast in close proximity to the embassy. Delhi Police and the security team are still investigating the situation."
Advisory for Israeli nationals in India
The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) issued recommendations on Tuesday, expressing concerns about a "recurrence of events," particularly in New Delhi.
Israeli nationals have been cautioned to avoid crowded places such as malls and markets, as well as locations associated with Westerners, Jews, and Israelis. Additionally, they are advised to remain vigilant in public areas, including restaurants, hotels, and pubs.
The recommendations further advise against openly displaying Israeli symbols, attending unsecured large-scale events, and sharing itineraries, photographs, and real-time details of visits on social media.
What did Israeli Foreign Ministry say about the blast?
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, in a press statement earlier on Tuesday, said that there were no casualties in the explosion.
"The incident is under investigation by the local authorities in full cooperation with the Israeli security forces", the ministry said.
Soon after the explosion, which took place in a green belt area outside the Central Hindi Training Institute located near the embassy, teams of Delhi Police's Special Cell, bomb disposal squad and fire department rushed to the spot. An almost three-hour-long search operation was carried out in the area.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team also examined the site, a senior police officer in New Delhi said.
Following the incident, officials have heightened security around the embassy and other Israeli establishments.
Earlier this month, the NSC advised Israelis to reconsider travel abroad and to avoid outward displays of Jewish and Israeli identities due to rising antisemitism worldwide amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Notably, the Israeli embassy in New Delhi has faced previous attacks, including an explosion in 2021 that damaged cars without causing casualties. In February 2012, the wife of an Israeli security staff member was injured in an attack on her car. Security around the Israel embassy in New Delhi has been elevated since the recent Israel-Hamas conflict began earlier this year, according to security officials.
