NIA launches probe into Israel embassy ‘blast’ call case

NEW DELHI: A day after Delhi police received a call about a ‘blast’ being heard near the Israel embassy, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been roped in to investigate the incident.

A team of NIA officials, along with the Delhi Special Cell and Dog Squad, reached the Israeli embassy on Wednesday morning and initiated a probe into the alleged ‘blast’ call incident.

Meanwhile, Delhi police have zeroed in on two ‘suspects’ after examining the CCTV footage of the area. Officials have, however, not confirmed the duo’s involvement in the same, sources said on Wednesday. According to sources, two persons roaming near the Israel embassy on Tuesday evening have emerged as suspects in the alleged ‘blast’ incident.

“Two persons are seen roaming in the area in CCTV footage. Their role in the ‘blast’ call incident is not yet clear. We are trying to ascertain their identity and what were they doing in the area at the time of the call. Things will become clear only after their questioning”, they said.

Now the police are examining CCTVs of nearby areas to find out as to how the two suspects reached there and which route they took. They are also trying to ascertain the identity of the two suspects.

Delhi police found a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador near the Israel embassy on Tuesday evening in connection with the ‘blast’ call. “A letter has been written in English to the Israeli embassy in which threatening words are used. The group whose name is written on the letter is Sir Allah Resistance”, said the sources.

Police are currently examining the letter and are yet to reveal details. Delhi police are examining footage from over 100 CCTV cameras to nab the suspects. As per sources, the police are examining the footage for the route mapping of the suspects, who were seen walking on the road close to the spot shortly before the explosion.

The police have also started analysing dump data of the said spot, to identify phone numbers active in the area, sources said, adding that around 5,000 phone numbers were active during the period.

Delhi Police on Tuesday received a call that a ‘blast’ was heard near the Israel embassy in the Chanakyapuri area, but officials said that nothing as such was found at the spot of the incident. The call was received by the Delhi Fire Services around 6 pm.

Soon, the Delhi police crime unit along with fire services and bomb disposal squad reached the spot. Experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team also reached the spot.”The sound of a blast was heard by a security guard standing there,” FSL sources had said.

A security guard standing near the embassy said, “I heard a loud noise around 5 pm. The noise was similar to a tyre burst. I also saw smoke going up near a tree”. Sources in the special cell, however, said that no such blast occurred there. Meanwhile, security in the area has been increased in the area, and police are monitoring through CCTV cameras. (ANI)