Israel mission car burns 500 metres from 7RCR

In a brazen terror attack on Monday, an Israeli embassy car exploded in the high-security zone, 500 metres from prime minister Manmohan Singh's residence, 7 Race Course Road in New Delhi, minutes after a motorcycle-borne man attached a magnetic device to its rear. Four persons, including the wife of an Israeli diplomat, were injured in the attack.  

"The attack took place on the anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyah. It is believed that he was killed by Mossad, an Israeli intelligence agency. That probably explains why Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed fingers at Iranians for the attack as they have allegedly traditionally backed Hezbollah in Lebanon," intelligence sources told DNA.

The incident in the national capital took place around 3.20pm near Aurangzeb Road-Safdarjung Road crossing when Tal Yehoshua Koren, wife of defence attache in the Israeli embassy at Delhi, and her driver Manoj Sharma were going to the American embassy school in a Toyota Innova to bring her children.

"An eyewitness said a biker stuck some kind of a magnetic device to the rear of the Innova (109 CD 35). Minutes after the motorcycle passed, there was a blast and the car caught fire. There was just one person on the bike," said Delhi police commissioner BK Gupta.     

"Koren and her driver were injured in the attack. Two others - Arun Sharma and Manjeet Singh - who were in an adjacent car also suffered injuries. All the four are conscious and their condition is stable," said Gupta. "Koren suffered multiple injuries. She is likely to undergo a spine surgery. She is critical, but stable," said doctors at Primus hospital where the wife of the Israeli diplomat was admitted.

External affairs minister SM Krishna condemned the attack and promised to bring the culprits to justice. "India very strongly condemns such incidents. There will be a full investigation into the attack," he said. The minister also spoke to the Israeli foreign minister and said he will be kept informed about the probe.

Israeli embassy spokesperson David Goldfarb said he is in constant touch with the local authorities. He, however, did not raise suspicion against any group or country. The Delhi police commissioner said a team of the central forensic science laboratory is examining the car to find out the kind of explosive used. "The case will be investigated by Delhi police's special cell," Gupta said.

The blast took place in one of the most sensitive zones near the prime minister's residence and the Tughlak Road police station.

Onlookers said the explosion was so powerful that it could be heard more than a kilometre away. "I was a kilometre away from the site of the blast when I heard the explosion. It was very powerful. I ran towards the spot and saw an auto driver and an Air Force official taking the injured to hospital. The police had not even reached by then," said Ravi Singh, a resident of Delhi.