Following a minor bomb blast near the Israel Embassy in the national capital, a high alert has been sounded at all airports and government buildings across the country, officials said on Friday.
“High alert has been issued for all the airports and the government buildings across the country,” an official of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which handles security at 64 airports across the country, said.
The official said that checking and frisking will be tight at all the airports.
According to Delhi Police officials, a low intensity blast occured around 5.05 p.m. near 5 A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road near Jindal House in the high-security New Delhi zone.
No one was injured, nor was there any damage to property was witnessed except window panes of three vehicles parked nearby. Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation.
The explosion took place just few kilometres away from the Vijay Chowk where beating retreat ceremony was taking place, in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Armed Forces chiefs and several other dignitaries.
The police are looking at the CCTV footage from the locality.
Amit Shah takes stock of situation
Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar and Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava have briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the ‘low-intensity blast’ that took place in the heart of the national capital on Friday.
“The investigation into the blast is being monitored. Nothing can be ruled about as of now,” said a senior IB official.
A low intensity explosion occurred near the Israel Embassy in the national capital on Friday. As per sources, the explosion took place on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in the heart of the city. A senior IPS officer said, “We received a call at the Police Control Room about a bomb blast.”
Fire brigade, SWAT and forensic teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident took place at around 5.05 pm. Senior IPS officers from Delhi Police’s anti-terror units and officials from the National Investigation Agency have also reached the spot.
“We are looking into the matter. Multiple police teams have been rushed to the spot. It is yet to be ascertained the kind of material that exploded,” an officer said.
As per fire department information, they received the call at 5.11 pm, and three fire tenders were pressed into service. The window panes of the vehicles parked in the nearby area have been damaged.
The police are looking at the CCTV footages from the locality.
“So far nobody has been injured in the incident,” the officer said.
The blast took place even as there was heightened security in the area owing to the Beating Retreat ceremony, which culminates the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations at Vijay Chowk.
On February 13, 2012, a terror attack occured in Delhi when a sticky bomb was placed on the car of Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of the Israeli diplomat, in which she had received injuries. Delhi Police had then arrested journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi for aiding bike-borne bombers who are yet to be caught.