Uruguay: Israeli embassy worker suspected in planting fake bomb

Suspect has worked for mission for the past 8years; police say fake explosive found last month may have been planted to test police response time.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JULY 5, 2015 06:18

Updated: JULY 5, 2015 07:56

View of Montevideo, Uruguay (photo credit: ISRAELI EMBASSY IN MONTEVIDEO) — View of Montevideo, Uruguay

(photo credit: ISRAELI EMBASSY IN MONTEVIDEO)

Police in Uruguay named an Israeli embassy security worker as the main suspect in planting a fake bomb on June 17 outside the Montevideo World Trade Center building which houses the Israeli Embassy.

According to a report in local newspaper El Observador, the suspect has been an Israeli embassy security worker for the past eight years and also has performed similar security work for a number of local Jewish groups.

Judge Nestor Valetti told the paper that "After viewing the security footage, intelligence officials came to the conclusion that this person was suspicious." Still, both Valetti and the case's prosecutor could not give a definitive ruling.

The suspect has since been released from custody due to insufficient evidence and his computer is now being searched.

The device was found by police inside of a sardine can that contained wires, a battery and a switch, though the device did not contain explosive material.

A similar device was discovered by police last November some 70 meters from the building. On that occasion, the embassy was evacuated as a matter of caution, and no injuries were reported. In December, a senior Iranian diplomat was forced to leave Uruguay after he was suspected of involvement in the incident.

Police officials said after that incident that the device was apparently planted in order to “measure” police response times.

Herb Keinon contributed to this report.