New developments have been reported in the wake of the bomb attacks on Israeli diplomatic targets in India and Georgia yesterday.
The occupant of the car that exploded in India has been identified as Tal Yehoshua-Koren, wife of Israel’s defense attache in India. According to reports, Yehoshua-Koren suffered serious spinal injuries and was operated on this morning. She is reported to be in stable condition.
Speaking from her hospital bed, Yehoshua-Koren said that she remembers “seeing the motorcyclist who apparently threw something in the direction of the car.”
Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said Tuesday, “Investigations are on…it appears that a motorcycle rider, a single person, came from behind. We think the explosion took place within 4-5 seconds of the device being attached.”
“We think it’s likely that a very well-trained person planted the device,” he added. “We think the target was the Israeli diplomat’s wife and therefore we have to assume this was a terror attack.”
Indian officials are viewing the attack as a serious security failure, especially in light of its close proximity to the Indian Prime Minister’s residence.
In Israel, police have increased security at public places, foreign embassies, and Ben-Gurion International Airport. Foreign Ministry officials stated that intelligence and evidence gathered at the blast scene – and at the scene of the thwarted bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat in Georgia – indicate that Iran masterminded the attacks.
Unsurprisingly, Iran has denied any involvement in Monday’s attacks, with Iran’s ambassador to India dismissing Israeli accusations as “nothing but lies.”
In other news, an Iranian man blew off his legs Tuesday in a failed bomb attack in Bangkok.
According to the English-language The Bangkok Post, an Iranian man began the attack by flinging a bomb towards a taxi whose driver refused to accept him as a passenger.
Thai government spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng said that police thereafter tried to move in and arrest the man, but not before he attempted to hurl another bomb. The bomb reportedly bounced back in his direction as it detonated, blowing off both his legs. Four other were wounded in the blasts.
Chaisaeng told reporters that these blasts came shortly after there had been an explosion in a house the same man was renting.
“The police have control of the situation. It is thought that the suspect might be storing more explosives inside his house,” Thitima said. She noted that according to an initial police report, the man was an Iranian national.