It was a terror attack; diplomat's wife was target: Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram Tuesday termed yesterday's car bomb blast, as a 'terror attack' and said that Israel diplomat's wife was seems to be target. He also added that it was committed out by a well-trained person.

Speaking to the media on the sideline of high level meeting on internal security issues, Home Minister Chidambaram said, "It's quite clear that a very well-trained person committed this attack. There are reasons to believe that target was Israeli diplomat's wife."

"Teams have been deployed to trace the motorcycle rider. I am not pointing finger at any particular organisation. Whoever did it we condemn it strongly," said Chidambaram after chairing a meeting attended by Senior officers of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) including Home Secretary RK Singh, Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ajay Chadha, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Intelligence Bureau chief N Sandhu and other senior MHA officials.

Updating about the health condition of the victim, Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of an Israel diplomat, Chidambaram said that she was still in hospital but her condition is stable.

"The condition of the lady is stable. She has suffered splinter injuries and some other injuries. She is out of danger."

The other three injured were Indians and one of them was her driver, Minister added.

All the three were discharged after medical attention was given to them, he further said.

Condemning the incident, Chidambaram said diplomats of every country were entitled to live and work in India in peace and security.

Asserting about the incidents, HM said, "As an eye witness quoted that a motorcycle rider came from behind Koren's car when it halted at a traffic junction on Safdarjung Road (not far from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence), and attached a device to the rear door of the car, on the right hand side, crossed the diving verge, swung past the car and sped away.

According to eyewitness a powerful explosion held just 4-5 seconds of the device being attached.

"It was so powerful, which sound could be heard in a range of one kilometre," he added.

Minister Informed to media that investigations were going on and CCTV cameras were being screened. However, no clear image of the motorcycle rider or the number plate can be viewed so far.

He also assured Israel that the investigation would proceed until the perpetrators of the attack were found.

Earlier, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday criticized the attack and accused 'Iran'behind it. "Iran and its client Hezbollah may be behind it who have made several attempts on Israel diplomats recently."

He cited Iran, as 'the world's greatest exporter of terror'.