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2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats

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2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats
Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict
LocationNew Delhi, India
Tbilisi, Georgia (attempted)
Date13 February 2012 (2012-02-13)
Injured4

The 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats occurred on 13 February 2012 after a bomb explosion on an Israeli diplomatic car in New Delhi, India, wounding one embassy staff member, a local employee and two passers-by. Another bomb planted in a car in Tbilisi, Georgia failed to explode and was defused by Georgian police.

Background

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In the preceding months there had been an escalating war of words between Israel and Iran. On 12 February 2012, the Iranian foreign ministry summoned the Azeri ambassador to complain against a report in The Times that Mossad had used Azerbaijan as a base for covert operations against Iran.[1][2]

Incidents

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Azerbaijan

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On 25 January 2012, Azerbaijani authorities detained three individuals who they suspected of plotting to attack the country's Israeli ambassador, Michael Lotem. The alleged plotters were identified as being connected to an Iranian citizen who had ties to Iranian intelligence.[3] The President of Israel Shimon Peres thanked Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev for thwarting the operation.[4]

India

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A motorcyclist attached a sticky bomb to the car of the wife of the Israeli defence attache to India while she was on her way to pick up her children from school.[5] The woman, Tal Yehoshua Koren, sustained moderate injuries that required surgery to remove shrapnel while her driver and two bystanders suffered minor injuries.[6][7]

An Indian journalist, Syed Mohammad Ahmed Kazmi, was charge-sheeted in the case. His judicial custody was extended until 9 August 2012, the day slated by the court to consider to take cognizance of the charge sheet.[8]

Georgia

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A car parked 200 meters (660 ft) from the Israeli embassy in Tbilisi was discovered to have a bomb after a local driver for the embassy heard a noise while he was driving. He pulled over to side of the road and discovered a bomb underneath his car. He then alerted the Georgian police, who defused the bomb.[9]

Thailand

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See also: 2012 Bangkok bombings

Investigation

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Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the use of RDX was ruled out (which had previously been used in other attacks in India) and that no one was accused until investigations were over. He added that those who perpetrated the attacks would be brought to justice.[10] Delhi Police had detained five people after the incident, but they were released after questioning. Indian authorities looked at CCTV footage for images of the perpetrator.[11]

On 7 March 2012, Delhi Police arrested Indian journalist Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi who claimed to work for an Iranian news organisation.[12] The police claimed that he had conducted a recce of the Israeli embassy along with three other Iranian nationals, one of whom executed the blast. They also claimed that he was in touch with the mastermind of the module, Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, and that Kazmi's wife received foreign remittances of ₹18.785 lakh through her bank account while Kazmi received ₹3,80,000(US$4600) from the module.[13] On 3 April 2012, his bail petition was dismissed by a Court of Metropolitan Magistrate. The court cited prima facie evidence and large scale international ramifications to be among the reasons to dismiss his petition.[14] On 10 April 2012, Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation and Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Kazmi. However, his relatives refuted all allegations.[15] On 31 July 2012, Kazmi was chargesheeted. He was charged under various provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code (IPC) including attempt to murder and Explosive Substances Act.[16]

In July 2012, the Times of India reported that Delhi Police concluded that terrorists belonging to a branch of Iran's military, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, were responsible for the attack. According to the report, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards may have planned other attacks on Israeli targets around the world as well.[17][18] Yoram Cohen, the chief of Shin Bet, said that Iranian agents were seeking revenge for covert operations, including the assassinations of Iranian scientists.[19]

Kazmi was granted bail in October 2012. As of 2016, Kazmi was still out on bail.[20]

Reactions

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  •  Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for both incidents. "Iran, which is behind these attacks, is the greatest exporter of terrorism in the world. The Israeli government and its security forces will continue to work together with local security services against these terrorist actions."[9]
The Foreign Ministry had also put its embassies on high alert for the anniversary of the killing of Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyah, as Hezbollah had vowed to avenge the attack by attacking Israelis overseas.[21]
  •  Iran – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast condemned the attacks, which it called "terrorist"; it rejected the Israeli allegation and denied responsibility for the incidents.[22]

Aftermath

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The next day another failed attempt in Bangkok, Thailand led to the injuries of four people. Though the target was not known the perpetrators were said to be Iranian.[23]

The attack was mentioned by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, as one of the terrorist attacks involving Qasem Soleimani, the Quds Force commander, in his speech after the 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Iran summons Azeri ambassador for suspected links with Israel's Mossad". Al Arabiya. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Iran summons Azeri envoy over Mossad collusion'". The Jerusalem Post. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  3. ^ Shvidler, Eli (23 January 2012). "Azerbaijan Thwarts Terror Attacks Against Israeli, Jewish Targets".
  4. ^ Lomsadze, Giorgi (27 January 2012). "Azerbaijan Says it Thwarted an Iranian Plot to Kill an Israeli Ambassador". The Atlantic.
  5. ^ Israel embassy car blast: Indian intelligence hints at Iran's hand
  6. ^ Dan Williams (13 February 2012). "Israel blames Iran after attacks on embassy staff". Reuters. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. ^ Yaakov Katz (13 February 2012). "Attacks target Israeli embassies in Georgia, India". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Israeli diplomat attack case: Kazmi's JC extended". 4 August 2012.
  9. ^ a b Herb Keinon & Gil Hoffman (13 February 2012). "Netanyahu: Iran is behind attacks on Israeli embassies". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Handiwork of well-trained person, says Chidambaram". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Israel embassy car blast: India not taking 'advantage' of US help?". NDTV. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Syed Mohammed Kazmi, Indian Journalist, Arrested in New Delhi Bomb Attack". HuffPost. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Muhammad Kazmi carried out Israeli embassy recce, says Delhi Police". India Today. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Court Denies Bail to Kazmi". Outlook India. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Syed Mohammad Kazmi booked by ED for money laundering". India Today. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Kazmi Charge Sheeted in Israeli Diplomat Attack Case". Outlook India. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  17. ^ Chauhan, Neeraj (29 July 2012). "Cops name Iran military arm for attack on Israeli diplomat". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  18. ^ Davidovich, Joshua (29 July 2012). "Indian police say Revolutionary Guards behind Delhi attack". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  19. ^ Israel accuses Iran of attacks in Delhi and Tbilisi, The Guardian, 14 February 2012.
  20. ^ 2012 Israeli embassy car blast case accused Kazmi alleges people barged into house, abused wife; Zee News; 26 April 2016
  21. ^ Magnezi, Aviel (20 June 1995). "Israeli missions in India, Georgia targeted". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  22. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (13 February 2012). "Binyamin Netanyahu accuses Iran over bombs targeting Israeli diplomats". The Guardian. London.
  23. ^ "Iranian suspects in Bangkok bomb plot dined with prostitutes, authorities say", nydailynews.com, 17 February 2012.
  24. ^ "President Trump Delivers a Statement on Iran". YouTube. White House. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
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