Embassy Was Already On High Alert Before Blast: Israel’s Envoy To India

India: The Israeli embassy in Delhi was on high alert because of “threats” it had received, even before a small bomb went off outside the mission, its ambassador told AFP on Saturday.

The envoy, Ron Malka, said he was not surprised by Friday’s attack, which caused no injuries but blew the windows out of three cars.

The road outside the embassy remained sealed off Saturday as forensic experts sought clues as to who was responsible for what Israeli officials in Jerusalem have said was terrorism.

The police have so far only described it as “a mischievous attempt to create a sensation”.

“This could have ended differently in other circumstances, so we were fortunate,” Malka said in a telephone interview.

“We are always prepared. Especially these last days, we raised the level of alert due to some threats,” he added, without giving further details.

“We are not surprised.”

Investigators had found an envelope with a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador in the street.

The letter described the low-intensity explosion as a “trailer” and made references to top Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani and Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Soleimani, considered Iran’s most powerful military commander, was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020.