India terror attack: Delhi investigators in Iran

Deputy police commissioner, inspector seeking information on Iranian nationals suspected of involvement in bombing that injured wife of Israeli diplomat

Ynet|Published: 08.13.12 , 08:38

Two New Delhi Police investigators have arrived in Iran to seek the cooperation of local authorities in the probe into the February 13 bombing of an Israeli Embassy vehicle, in which the wife of a diplomat was seriously injured, Ynet has learned.

According to reports in India, citing official sources, the investigators are seeking information about Iranian national Houshang Afshar, the alleged bomber.

The source said the Indian foreign ministry wanted to send a senior diplomat to Tehran, but Delhi Police insisted on sending Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev, who is supervising over the probe, and Inspector Hriday Bhushan. The police officials traveled to Iran after the Islamic Republic conveyed its willingness to assist in the investigation.

The Indian sources said Sanjeev and Bhushan were sent to Tehran with the passport details of Afshar and other three Iranian nationals - Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, Saeid Moradi and Mohammad Kharzei.

According to Delhi Police, Afshar is suspected of planting the bomb which injured Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of an Israeli Defense Ministry representative. The other three Iranians are suspected of assisting him.

At India's request, Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for all four suspects.

The Indian sources said the Delhi Police investigators also took with them to Iran the findings of a probe by Malaysian authorities, according to which Afshar, after fleeing from India on February 13, had taken a connecting flight to Tehran from Kaula Lumpur on the next day.

The police officials are also looking to verify a statement given by Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi, who was arrested on suspicion involvement in the attack.