New Delhi:
The motorcyclist, who planted a bomb on an Israeli embassy car in Delhi, may have been of Indian origin, according to investigators working on the case. The biker was described yesterday by Home minister P Chidambaram as someone who seemed well-trained. Today, investigators say it's likely that the bomber conducted a few dry runs before sticking an explosive onto the car on Monday evening. An Israeli diplomat's wife, who was inside, is still in hospital; the driver of the car was released today.
A team of Israeli investigators was allowed access today to the remains of the SUV. Traces of explosives found in the car, which blew up just a few feet from the Prime Minister's residence, are being tested at a forensic lab. A red motorcycle found abandoned in South Delhi's Lado Sarai area may have been the bike involved in the terror attack, though security cameras from a private home in the area did not capture either the biker's face or the license plate of the two-wheeler.
Delhi Police sources believe that the bomber was meant to stick the explosives on the rear window of the car to cause maximum damage. However, the target was not specifically the woman who was injured. The idea was to try and kill anyone from the Israeli embassy, they believe.
Israel has blamed Iran for the attack. Delhi police officers have also scanned the Iranian population in the capital, though Mr Chidambaram has been careful to emphasise that India is currently "not pointing a finger at any group."
Sources say, the bomb that was used may have been made locally.
This evening, the Israeli ambassador met Foreign Minister SM Krishna and said, "The meeting was a very good one. It is just another shining example of support, friendship and intimacy that we have been lucky to be exposed to in the last 48 hours since this very saddening vicious terrorist attack on one of our people took place here in the heart of New Delhi."