Exclusive: Iranian Payback? Hits on Israelis Mimic Attacks on Iran Scientists
Feb. 13, 2012 — -- Has Iran decided to turn Israeli tactics against Israel?
In a strike virtually identical to attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists, U.S. sources say a passing motorcyclist attached what appeared to be a shaped charge to an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in New Delhi, India. The driver and the wife of Israel's deputy defense ministry representative to India were wounded, as were two people in a nearby car.
Television footage showed flames pouring from a minivan with its back door blown out. The attack took place at 4 p.m. on Race Track Road, close to the Israeli Embassy.
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A single source confirms that a failed attack against an Israeli car in Tblisi, Georgia used a similar method, but the bomb did not detonate. A worker at the embassy alerted local police after seeing a black plastic bag attached to the bottom of the Israeli envoy's car. The bag held a hand grenade.
No attackers have been identified in either incident. An unconfirmed report says that a third Israeli facility in Amsterdam may also have been targeted.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly pointed the finger at Iran for the twin attacks in Georgia and India. Both attacks come one day after the fourth anniversary of the assassination of a top Hezbollah leader, Imad Mughniyah.
Netanyahu also said that Israel had stopped attacks in other countries, including Thailand and Azerbaijan, in recent months. "In all those cases, the elements behind those attacks were Iran and its protege," said Netanyahu."
Iranian state media quoted an Foreign Ministry spokesman saying that Netanyahu's accusation was "within the Zionist regime's psychological war against Iran."
"The Zionist regime, due to repeated crimes against humanity, is the main party accused of terrorist activities," he said.
