Investigators groping for clues in Israeli bomb attack

Investigators were today groping for clues into yesterday's bomb attack on an Israeli embassy car here even as Government saw a "well-trained" hand behind the terrror strike but refused to blame any country.

Sleuths scanned CCTV footages for clues and sources said police were probing all angles including whether any Iranian living here was involved and if any outside help was received for carrying out the attack here for which Israel has blamed Iran.

Tal Yehoshua(40), wife of a Israeli Defence Attache, who herself is a diplomat and working in the mission, was critically injured in the explosion and underwent surgeries at the private Primus hospital to remove splinters from her spine and liver. She was among the four persons injured.

"It is quite clear that a very well-trained person has committed this attack. There is reason to believe that the target was the Israeli diplomat's wife and, therefore, one has to proceed on the basis that it was a terrorist attack," Union Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

"I am not pointing a finger at any particular group or any particular organisation but whoever did it, we condemn it in the strongest terms," he said.

Echoing Chidambaram, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said there was no evidence till now to suggest involvement of any country in the attack on the Toyota Innova vehicle.

"We have no evidence to name any country. It's premature to take any country's name," he told reporters when asked whether there was an Iranian hand.

Singh said the investigators were yet to zero in on people behind the crime and no material has suggested involvement of any particular country.

"We don't have any idea who planted it. There is no material to show involvement of any country. The perpetrators behind the attack will be known only after the investigation is completed," he added.

Delhi Police Commissioner BK Gupta said security agencies were also seeking information from Georgia and Thailand on the blasts there.

Besides Yehoshua, three others including the driver of the vehicle which was ravaged in the explosion not far from the Prime Minister's Race Course residence triggered by a magnetic device stuck on its rear by an unidentified person on a motorcycle were injured.

Police Commissioner Gupta said the bomb used in yesterday's attack was not bigger than a palmtop or a brick. He, however, said so far the investigations do not point to the use of eadly RDX explosive.

"The attacker was very well trained. He managed to escape from the spot within a few seconds and without sustaining injuries," he said.

A senior police official said sleuths are investigating whether the attacker was trailing the car for the past four days.

The official said police are investigating whether any Iranian residents in India were used by perpetrators of yesterday's attack.

"All angles are being probed. It could also be possible that local gang was used for the attack. We are probing all angles," a source said.

Eye-witnesses have told investigators that the attacker was wearing a red helmet and brown jacket.

Official sources said there was no prior intelligence input about the attack and that the device used to carry out the blast was very sophisticated and it was used in India for the first time.

After examination of the blast site, forensic experts have concluded that neither any battery nor any circuit was used in the bomb but traces of aluminium were found from the spot.

A NIA team inspected the vehicles and they are now being taken to the office of the Special Cell. The sources said investigators were now awaiting for CFSL report.

Five persons owning red colour motorcycles were detained but were let off later while another person who was caught on CCTV in front of Israeli embassy appeared before investigators.

Doctors treating the Israeli diplomat at the Primus hospital are of the opinion that she needs to be in constant medical observation for next 24 hours even as she was conscious and talking to her family.