New Delhi: Forensic experts and security agencies have launched a full-scale investigation into the powerful explosion that ripped through a Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, killing eight people and leaving several others severely injured.
The blast, which occurred around 6:50 p.m. near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, reduced nearby vehicles to mangled wreckage and sent shockwaves through one of the capital’s most secure zones. Witnesses said the car had stopped at a traffic light moments before the explosion. Passersby caught in the impact were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
In response, the Union Home Ministry convened a high-level review meeting early Tuesday, chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah. Senior officials including the Intelligence Bureau Chief, the Home Secretary, and the Delhi Police Commissioner attended the 9:30 a.m. briefing to assess the situation and outline immediate security measures.
Investigating agencies have filed a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with preliminary findings pointing to a possible terror plot. Security has been intensified not only in Delhi but also in Mumbai and other major metros amid intelligence warnings suggesting a wider network behind the attack.
Early forensic analysis indicates the use of ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), an industrial-grade explosive commonly employed in large-scale blasts. The i20 involved in the explosion reportedly had multiple traffic challans in the Delhi-NCR region, all of which had been settled prior to the incident.
According to investigation sources, Umar Mohammad, suspected to be the main perpetrator, was inside the vehicle when it detonated. He is believed to have coordinated the plan with two associates and may have triggered the blast prematurely following a series of arrests in Faridabad that caused panic within the group.
As special teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi Police Special Cell continue to piece together the conspiracy, international responses have begun pouring in. The U.S. Department of State, in a message posted on X, expressed its condolences to the victims’ families, stating, “Our hearts are with those affected by the terrible explosion in New Delhi… We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Authorities have sealed off the area near the Red Fort as investigators comb through evidence in an effort to trace the origins of the attack and prevent further threats in the national capital.
