Indian Police Go to Iran in Bomb Probe
New Delhi police investigating the bombing of an Israeli diplomat’s car reportedly are in Iran to locate and question suspects.
The investigators left for Tehran late last week, Ynet reported, citing Indian media sources, after the Iranian government agreed to assist in the probe of the Feb. 13 attack in New Delhi. Four Iranian nationals, for whom the investigators have passport details, are suspected in the case.
Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of a diplomat stationed with the Israeli Defense Ministry mission in India, was injured when a bomb exploded in the back of the diplomat’s car in which she was riding. On the same day, a car bomb was discovered on an Israeli diplomat’s car in Tbilisi, Georgia, before it detonated.
The attack in India came the day after the fourth anniversary of the assassination of the operational chief of Hezbollah, Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed Feb. 12, 2008 in Damascus by a car bomb. Hezbollah blames his killing on Israel, and Israeli embassies and other missions had been on high alert in advance of the anniversary.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of being behind the attacks. Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for the four Iranians suspected of involvement.
One person has been arrested in the case: freelance Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi, who worked for Iranian news organizations. Kazmi is accused of being involved in econnaissance for the attack and reportedly booked a plane ticket for one of the accused Iranians to leave India. He reportedly visited Iran twice in the months leading up to the attack and accepted money in exchange for his help.
The Indian investigators also may visit the former Soviet republic of Georgia, the Indian Express newspaper reported, according to The Associated Press.
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