Israel Embassy Blast: Suspect, unable to speak Hindi, identified boarding autorickshaw from a metro station

“This included civil department labourers who were working at the spot, a porter, and a couple, all of whom were questioned and eventually given a clean chit. Police then zeroed in on a man seen coming out of an autorickshaw around 2.30 pm,” said the source.

Police tracked the auto driver, who told them the man had approached him while he was waiting outside Jamia Nagar Metro station, and he struck a deal for Rs 150. “According to the driver, the man was not able to speak Hindi properly, and he asked the driver to drop him at Prithviraj Road,” said the source, adding that police found that the man, within three-four minutes of deboarding, got into another auto and left for Kartavya Path.

“Police are conducting searches in Jamia Nagar, scanning CCTVs, and questioning locals for leads about the suspect. The three CCTV cameras outside Jamia Nagar Metro station were not working,” the source said.

Recounting the events of that day, a senior officer said there were three security personnel, including two Israel nationals, stationed outside the embassy. Minutes before the blast, they headed towards Khan Market, but returned when they heard the sound of an explosion, the officer said.

“They rushed towards the embassy and informed a PCR van stationed outside. A police personnel then made a PCR call about an explosion being heard from behind the embassy,” the officer said.

The fire department and Special Cell were also informed, and senior officers reached the spot, where an “abusive” threat letter by a previously unknown group, Sir Allah Resistance, addressed “to Israel Embassy ambassador” was found.

“Some shrapnel, ball bearings, a burnt piece of cloth, a part of a hand watch” were found at the spot, an officer said, adding that the wall also showed “signs of impact”.

“Senior Delhi Police officers were asked to conduct a proper investigation before registering an FIR,” said the officer. Special Commissioner of Police (law and order of Southern range) Sagarpreet Hooda did not respond to queries on why an FIR has not been registered so far.

According to sources, while the Delhi Police did not make a formal request to the National Security Guard to visit the crime scene, the latter “went on the Intelligence Bureau’s requisition, after they had taken clearance from the Commissioner of Police”.

Sources also said that when the NSG first showed up at the spot, Delhi Police officers asked who had requisitioned them.

In January 2021, the last time a crude bomb had gone off outside the Israel Embassy, the Delhi Police had lodged an FIR within 24 hours and transferred the investigation to the National Investigation Agency within five days.