NEW DELHI : Israel’s ambassador to India said Sunday that Iran is apossible suspect in a bomb attack on the Israeli embassy in Delhi lastweek, which was close enough that it was felt in the mission and could havecaused much more damage.
A bombing near the embassy Friday blew out the windows on three nearbycars, but did not cause any casualties. Indian and Israeli authorities areinvestigating it as a likely attack directed against the embassy.
“We do know so far that it was a terror act aimed at the Israeli embassy inNew Delhi, but the investigation is ongoing,” Ron Malka told The Times ofIsrael.
“The explosion was heard clearly inside the embassy; it was very close, afew meters,” Malka said. “It could have ended differently and caused a lotof damage.” Indian media reports said investigators had found an envelopewith a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador in the street describingthe low-intensity explosion as a “trailer” and making references to“Iranian martyrs” Qassem Soleimani and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. “We can end yourlife, anytime, anywhere,” the letter read.
“Currently it is impossible to know for certain who the perpetrators were,”Malka added. “Iran is an option. But… we have to wait for an investigationand conclusions.”
Soleimani, considered Iran’s most powerful military commander, was killedin a US drone strike in January 2020. Fakhrizadeh, one of the country’s topnuclear scientists, was killed in November — an assassination for whichIran blamed Israel
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In 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin blamed Iran for a bomb attack on anIsraeli diplomatic car in Delhi that injured at least three people.Hebrew-language media reported that a group called “Jaish ul-Hind” claimedresponsibility for the Friday explosion in a statement posted on theTelegram messaging service. According to a report by the Walla news site,the statement said the attack, which took place on the 20th anniversary ofIndia-Israel ties, was in fact an act of revenge against the Indiangovernment and that further attacks were expected, but with no mention ofIsrael.
“I have not heard of this organization to date. It is unfamiliar, from whatI gather,” Malka said. “The Indians are conducting an investigation of howserious it is.”
He refused to confirm an Israeli report that the Mossad was also involvedin the investigation. Malka said the embassy was already on high alertbefore the attack due to “threats.” He said that while diplomats were beingcautious, they had not been cowed into shutting down activities.
