Lucknow: Hours after the IED blast went-off outside the Israel Embassy in the high security area of Delhi on Friday evening, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed police officials to step up security arrangements at sensitive and crowded public places across the state.
The CM has reportedly instructed district magistrates and superintendents of police to ensure adequate vigilance at prominent places in their respective districts. Adityanath asked them to beef up security around religious places and other sensitive areas with increased police patrolling .
Israeli Embassy blast in Delhi
The low-intensity improvised device went off outside 5 Abdul Kalam Road near Jindal House at 5.05 pm when President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the three Service Chiefs were a few kilometres away on Rajpath, attending the Beating Retreat ceremony concluding Republic Day celebrations.
As per Indian security establishment officers the bomb was made with “locally available” low intensity explosives, whose exact nature would, however, be determined only after forensic examination. “Given the importance of the day (29 years of India-Israel relations) it appears the idea was more to send a message than to cause any real damage. However, it is a properly made IED. It appears to be the handiwork of some self-styled terror group or a lone wolf,” a senior security establishment officer was quoted saying.
The blast occurred shortly after 5 pm and damaged the window panes of three nearby parked cars, a Delhi police spokesman said in a statement.
“No injury to any person is there, nor was any damage to property witnessed except window panes of three vehicles parked nearby. Initial impressions suggest a mischievous attempt to create a sensation,” said the police spokesman.
