View source for 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats

{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
|title    = 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats
|partof   = [[Iran–Israel proxy conflict]]
|image    =
|alt      =
|caption  =
|location = New Delhi, India<br>[[Tbilisi]], Georgia (''attempted'')
|date     = {{Start date|df=y|2012|02|13}}
|injuries = 4
}}
{{Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001)}}
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==
Over the past several months, there has been an [[Iran–Israel relations|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.<ref name="Azeri summon">{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/12/194252.html|title=Iran summons Azeri ambassador for suspected links with Israel's Mossad|publisher=Al Arabiya|date=12 February 2012|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731030652/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/12/194252.html|archive-date=31 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Zeri Jpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=257521|title=Iran summons Azeri envoy over Mossad collusion'|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=12 February 2012|access-date=4 August 2012}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===India===
A motorcyclist attached a [[Improvised explosive device|sticky bomb]] to the car of the wife of the Israeli [[Military attaché|defence attache]] to India while she was on her way to pick up her children from school.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708001850/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-14/india/31058847_1_magnetic-bomb-mostafa-ahmadi-roshan-iranian-nuclear-scientists Israel embassy car blast: Indian intelligence hints at Iran's hand]</ref> The woman, Tal Yehoshua Koren, sustained moderate injuries that required surgery to remove shrapnel while her driver and two bystanders suffered minor injuries.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news|title=Israel blames Iran after attacks on embassy staff|author=Dan Williams|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-security-embassies-idUSTRE81C0QZ20120213|agency=Reuters|date=13 February 2012|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="jpost">{{cite news|title=Attacks target Israeli embassies in Georgia, India|author=Yaakov Katz|url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=257618|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=13 February 2012|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>

An Indian journalist, Syed Mohammad Ahmed Kazmi, was [[Chargesheet|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/israeli-diplomat-attack-case-kazmi-s-jc-extended_791549.html|title=Israeli diplomat attack case: Kazmi's JC extended|date=4 August 2012}}</ref> <!-- What the heck does this paragraph even mean? -->

===Georgia===
A car parked {{convert|200|meter}} from the [[Georgia–Israel relations|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.<ref name="jpost1">{{cite news|title=Netanyahu: Iran is behind attacks on Israeli embassies |author=Herb Keinon & Gil Hoffman|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=257633|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=13 February 2012|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>

===Thailand===
{{See also|2012 Bangkok bombings}}

==Investigation==
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.<ref name="Handiwork of well-trained person, says Chidambaram">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2892321.ece|title=Handiwork of well-trained person, says Chidambaram|date=14 February 2012|access-date=14 February 2012|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu}}</ref> [[Delhi Police]] had detained five people after the incident, but they were released after questioning. Indian authorities looked at [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] footage for images of the perpetrator.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel embassy car blast: India not taking 'advantage' of US help? |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/israel-embassy-car-blast-india-not-taking-advantage-of-us-help-176401 |publisher=NDTV |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/65YAa1Z5D?url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/israel-embassy-car-blast-india-not-taking-advantage-of-us-help-176401 |archive-date=18 February 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2012}}</ref>

On 7 March 2012, [[Delhi Police]] arrested Indian journalist [[Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi]] who claimed to work for an Iranian news organisation.<ref name="Syed Mohammed Kazmi, Indian Journalist, Arrested in New Delhi Bomb Attack">{{cite news|title=Syed Mohammed Kazmi, Indian Journalist, Arrested in New Delhi Bomb Attack |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/syed-mohammed-kazmi-arrested_n_1326108.html|access-date=17 July 2012|newspaper=HuffPost|date=7 March 2012}}</ref> The police claimed that he had conducted a [[Reconnaissance|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 {{INRConvert|1.8785|m}} through her bank account while Kazmi received {{INRConvert|380000|nolink=yes}} from the module.<ref name="Muhammad Kazmi carried out Israeli embassy recce, says Delhi Police">{{cite news|title=Muhammad Kazmi carried out Israeli embassy recce, says Delhi Police|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muhammad-ahmad-kazmi-israeli-embassy-recce-delhi-police/1/178149.html|access-date=17 July 2012|newspaper=India Today|date=17 March 2012}}</ref> On 3 April 2012, his bail petition was dismissed by a [[Courts of Metropolitan Magistrate|Court of Metropolitan Magistrate]]. The court cited prima facie evidence and large scale international ramifications to be among the reasons to dismiss his petition.<ref name="Court Denies Bail to Kazmi">{{cite news|title=Court Denies Bail to Kazmi|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=758316|access-date=17 July 2012|newspaper=Outlook India|date=3 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404092342/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=758316|archive-date=4 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 10 April 2012, [[Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation]] and [[Enforcement Directorate]] registered a [[money laundering]] case under [[Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002|Prevention of Money Laundering Act]] against Kazmi. However, his relatives refuted all allegations.<ref name="Syed Mohammad Kazmi booked by ED for money laundering">{{cite news|title=Syed Mohammad Kazmi booked by ED for money laundering|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arrested-for-aiding-iranian-bombers-syed-mohammad-kazmi-booked-by-ed-for-money-laundering/1/183855.html|access-date=17 July 2012|newspaper=India Today|date=10 April 2012}}</ref> On 31 July 2012, Kazmi was [[chargesheet]]ed. He was charged under various provisions of [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] (UAPA), [[Indian Penal Code]] (IPC) including attempt to murder and [[Explosive Substances Act]].<ref name="Kazmi Charge Sheeted">{{cite news|title=Kazmi Charge Sheeted in Israeli Diplomat Attack Case|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=770558|access-date=31 July 2012|newspaper=Outlook India|date=31 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801040625/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=770558|archive-date=1 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In July 2012, the ''[[Times of India]]'' reported that [[Delhi Police]] concluded that terrorists belonging to a branch of Iran's military, the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|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.<ref name="Iran revolutionary guards">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-30/delhi/32941054_1_israeli-diplomat-houshang-afshar-irani-mohammad-reza-abolghasemi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129164215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-30/delhi/32941054_1_israeli-diplomat-houshang-afshar-irani-mohammad-reza-abolghasemi|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2013|title=Cops name Iran military arm for attack on Israeli diplomat|date=29 July 2012|access-date=29 July 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|author=Chauhan, Neeraj}}</ref><ref name="Revolutionary Guards Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/indian-police-conclude-revolutionary-guards-behind-delhi-attack|title=Indian police say Revolutionary Guards behind Delhi attack|work=The Times of Israel|date=29 July 2012|access-date=29 July 2012|author=Davidovich, Joshua}}</ref> [[Yoram Cohen]], the chief of [[Shin Bet]], said that Iranian agents were seeking revenge for covert operations, including the assassinations of Iranian scientists.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/14/israel-accuses-iran-of-attacks Israel accuses Iran of attacks in Delhi and Tbilisi], ''The Guardian'', 14 February 2012.</ref>

Kazmi was [https://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=wsignin1.0&rpsnv=11&ct=1351194855&rver=5.5.4177.0&wp=MBI_SSL&wreply=https:%2F%2Flogin.secure.co1.msn.com%2Fwlsignin.aspx%3Fru%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fnews.in.msn.com%252fnational%252fsc-grants-bail-to-journalist-in-israeli-embassy-vehicle-blast-1&lc=16393&id=74351 granted bail] in October 2012.  As of 2016, Kazmi was still out on bail.<ref>[http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/2012-israeli-embassy-car-blast-case-accused-kazmi-alleges-people-barged-into-house-abused-wife_1879651.html 2012 Israeli embassy car blast case accused Kazmi alleges people barged into house, abused wife]; [[Zee News]]; 26 April 2016</ref>

==Reactions==
*{{flagu|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."<ref name="jpost1"/>
:The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4188985,00.html|title=Israeli missions in India, Georgia targeted|publisher=Ynetnews.com|date=20 June 1995|access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>
*{{flagu|Iran}} – [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)|Foreign Ministry]] spokesman [[Ramin Mehmanparast]] condemned the attacks, which it called "terrorist"; it rejected the Israeli allegation and denied responsibility for the incidents.<ref>{{cite news|title=Binyamin Netanyahu accuses Iran over bombs targeting Israeli diplomats|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/13/binyamin-netanyahu-accuses-iran-bombs|work=The Guardian|date=13 February 2012|location=London|first=Harriet|last=Sherwood}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
The next day [[2012 Bangkok bombings|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.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/iranian-suspects-bangkok-bomb-plot-dined-prostitutes-authorities-article-1.1024324 "Iranian suspects in Bangkok bomb plot dined with prostitutes, authorities say"], nydailynews.com, 17 February 2012.</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=President Trump Delivers a Statement on Iran|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYY29yO8HIc|website=YouTube|publisher=White House|access-date=4 January 2020|language=en|date=3 January 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Israeli Bangkok Embassy hostage crisis]]
* [[1992 attack on Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires]]
* [[2012 Burgas bus bombing]]
* [[2012 Cyprus terrorist plot]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Terrorist attacks against Israelis in the 2010s}}
{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israeli diplomats}}

{{#seo:
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[[Category:2012 in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:2012 in India]]
[[Category:2012 in Thailand]]
[[category:February 2012 events in Asia]]
[[category:March 2012 events in Asia]]
[[Category:2012 in Bangkok]]
[[Category:2010s in Delhi]]
[[Category:2010s in Tbilisi]]
[[Category:2012 crimes in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:2012 crimes in India]]
[[Category:2012 crimes in Thailand]]
[[Category:Crime in Delhi]]
[[Category:Crime in Tbilisi]]
[[Category:Crime in Bangkok]]
[[Category:Attacks in 2012]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2012]]
[[Category:Attacks on diplomatic missions in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on diplomatic missions in Thailand]]
[[Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in Asia]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Asia in 2012]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 2012]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Thailand in 2012]]
[[Category:Georgia (country)–Iran relations]]
[[Category:Georgia (country)–Israel relations]]
[[Category:India–Iran relations]]
[[Category:India–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Iran–Thailand relations]]
[[Category:Israel–Thailand relations]]
[[Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict]]
[[Category:Manmohan Singh administration]]