Car Bomb Terror Attack Kills Eight Near Delhi’s Red Fort

A Hyundai i20 loaded with explosives detonated at a traffic signal near Red Fort metro station in central Delhi on Monday evening, killing eight people and injuring over 20. Delhi Police classified the blast as a terror attack linked to a Faridabad-based module involving Kashmiri doctors and 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed, leading to eight arrests and recovery of weapons. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences, with heightened security measures implemented across major cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh.

Major Developments & Investigation

• Casualties: The blast has claimed at least eight lives, though some reports indicate the toll is nine. Several people were also injured.
• Case Registered: Delhi Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), specifically Sections 16 and 18 (dealing with punishment and conspiracy for a terrorist act), and the Explosive Substances Act.
• Terror Angle: The investigation is officially treating the case as a terror attack due to forensic evidence and intelligence inputs.
• Agencies Involved: Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are at the site conducting a thorough probe.
• Searches and Detentions:
  • Raids are being conducted at multiple locations.
  • Four suspects were reportedly detained for questioning following overnight searches at hotels in the Paharganj and Daryaganj areas.
  • The registered owner of the Hyundai i20 car, Md Salman, was detained in Gurugram. He claims to have sold the vehicle, which is being traced through subsequent owners, including a person in Ambala and a resident of Pulwama, J&K.

Incident Details & Political Response

• Vehicle: The explosion occurred in a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car near the Subhash Marg traffic signal close to the Red Fort Metro Station’s Gate No. 1, around 6:52 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Government Response:
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the incident and stated that “all possibilities are being explored, and a thorough investigation will be conducted, taking all options into account.” He visited the blast site and the injured in the hospital.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and was briefed by the Home Minister.
• High Alert: The national capital, along with airports, railway stations, and bus terminals, has been placed on high alert. Other states like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are also on heightened alert.

Focus on Suspects and Car Movement

CCTV footage is a major part of the investigation:

• Police have obtained CCTV footage showing the suspect’s car entering and exiting a parking area.
• Reports suggest the car, bearing a Haryana number plate, may have been parked for over three hours before the blast.
• Investigators are examining over 100 CCTV clips to track the vehicle’s complete movement.