Alert in Mumbai after Israeli embassy car explosion

Mumbai, Feb 13: An alert was sounded and security beefed up in the metropolis following an explosion in an Israeli embassy car close to their mission in Delhi in a suspected terror attack, police said.

"Security has been beefed up across the city, particularly in and around the institutions belonging to Israelis here," said Mumbai police spokesman and Deputy Commissioner Nisar Tamboli. Armed Quick Response Teams (QRT) of Mumbai police were deployed at the Consulate General of Israel at Nariman Point, besides areas having Israeli population and their religious places, Tamboli said.

Mumbai attack co-accused David Coleman Headley had conducted a reconnaissance of the Chabad House or Nariman House, a Jewish outreach centre that was targeted during the 26/11 terror strike, and identified Chabad houses in Delhi, Pushkar and Pune as potential targets. Security at vital installations and government offices has been tightened and policemen asked to be extra vigilant, Tamboli said.

The QRTs were also deployed at bus stands, railway stations, airport, ports, hotels, shopping malls and places of worship.

According to initial investigations in Delhi, two motorcycle-borne youths followed the Israeli Embassy vehicle on Aurangzeb Road in the high security zone, not far from Prime Minister's residence, and allegedly placed "something" in the rear of the car when it stopped at a traffic signal. Minutes later, there was an explosion and the Toyota Innova bearing number 109-CD-35 was in flames.

Three persons including Administrative Attache of the Embassy received injuries in the incident.

PTI