Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said the terror attack on Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua was a terrorist attack executed by a “well-trained person”.
Mr Chidambaram said after a briefing by the chiefs of the Intelligence Bureau and Delhi police: “It’s quite clear a very well-trained person (carried out) this attack.”
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said the United States was willing to extended all possible help to India. Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, told its Indian counterparts the attack was executed jointly by an Indian outfit and an external group, possibly Hezbollah. A three-member Mossad team will arrive here Wednesday to help with the investigation.
Iranian and Afghan nationals living here are now under the scanner. The injured Israeli diplomat, whose condition is stable, is likely to be airlifted to Israel.
Delhi police commissioner B.K. Gupta said the bomb could not have been bigger than a palmtop’s size, adding that pieces of magnet and explosives were recovered from the spot. “The bomb would have exploded in 3-5 seconds after it was stuck on the vehicle. The motorcyclist then hit a boulevard, moved to the other lane, apparently took a left turn and fled,” he said. The bomb could have been exploded with a mechanical trigger, a remote or a timer, he added.
Mr Gupta said the police was trying to get details about the foiled attack Monday in Tbilisi, Georgia, and on Tuesday’s blasts in Bangkok to see if there were any similarities.
Five persons were detained for questioning after the blast here on Monday, but later let off. The home ministry has directed the Delhi police to install CCTVs at all major intersections.
Investigators had not been able to get any leads from the CCTV footage along the Innova’s route from Khan Market till the Aurangzeb Road intersection.