A blast in a vehicle near Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence today created a flutter among security agencies including elite Special Protection Groups (SPG) guarding the VVIP.
Initially thought to be a CNG-cylinder blast, police sources now say that explosives were used.
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 the diplomat, have been injured. It is not confirmed yet whether the diplomat injured is a man or a woman. (Image courtesy: Joji Philip Thomas)
The blast happened at a petrol station at about 2 pm today barely 200 metres from the PM's residence. The car, a Toyota Innova, went up in flames and is completely burnt down. The diplomat is in hospital in critical condition. Senior police officials rushed to the spot and the entire area has been cordoned off.
Initial reports said the blast was caused by a CNG cylinder that burst, but traces of explosives were soon found. And eyewitnesses have now reportedly told investigators that a motorcycle was seen following the car minutes before the explosions and the motorcyclist was spotted sticking something on the car. Forensic teams are now going through the debris.
Early investigations are being made into whether it was a personal attack on the diplomat to whom the car belonged.
The Israeli Embassy too is very close to the site of the blast. The Associated Press has quoted Israel's Foreign Ministry as saying that there have been a pair of attempted car bombings against Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor was quoted as saying that one Israeli was wounded in the New Delhi attack near the Israeli Embassy. There is no official word of such a link in New Delhi. The Israeli Embassy told NDTV: "We do not know what caused the explosion. One person has been injured, a diplomat, who is now in hospital. We are in touch with local authorities."
Israeli Embassy offices in Mumbai have also been put on high alert.
