New Delhi:
As investigations continue to trace a well-trained biker on a red motorcycle who stuck a palm-sized bomb on a Toyota Innova car being used by an Israeli diplomat, India is waking up to a new security challenge - the "sticky bomb." The seeming ease with which the sticky bomb was used on Monday to blow up the Israeli diplomat's vehicle a mere 300 metres away from the Prime Minister's residence in Delhi, has security agencies on their toes. Here are five facts on the "sticky bomb" challenge:
1. Used first time in India: On Monday, an Israeli diplomat's car exploded in New Delhi, just a few feet from the Prime Minister's residence. Investigators say a "very well-trained" single person on a motorcycle drove up to the Toyota Innova car and attached a device to it while it was waiting at a traffic intersection. The car exploded within seconds, injuring four people. Magnetic bits were found on the car, indicating the use of a "sticky bomb". This is the first time that such a technique has been used in an attack in India, though there have been incidents reported in other countries and most recently in the attacks on scientists in Iran.
2. Can be stuck easily on targets: As it scans through CCTV footage from houses near the blast site, the Delhi Police says a "sticky bomb", not bigger than a palm top, was stuck to the vehicle seconds before it exploded. The device can be easily stuck on targets without people noticing it. And it goes off within seconds of being planted.
3. Can target particular individuals: The compact size of the bomb makes it easy for the attackers to follow particular individuals and target them without being noticed. After being briefed by the Delhi Police yesterday, Home Minister P Chidambaram had said, "We think the target was the Israeli diplomat's wife and therefore we have to assume this was a terror attack." Investigators say it is too premature to say that security detailing for VVIPs will be reviewed to factor in the sticky bomb, but securitymen tailing a convoy will now have to far more alert.
4. Can be easily blown up: The sticky bomb can easily be blown up using a remote device like a cellphone. Officials of the National Investigation Agency who surveyed the blast spot yesterday have said that initial investigations show that the vehicle was blown up by a remote controlled device and not one with a timer.
5. Cannot be stuck on a moving target: The sticky bomb needs a vehicle to be stationary before it is stuck on to a vehicle. The biker bomber in the attack on the Israeli diplomat had to wait till the target car stopped at a traffic light, investigators point out.