Red Fort blast highlights: Locals recall horror of Red Fort blast, say scenes still haunt them

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday slammed the Central government as a “complete failure” following the recovery of 360 kgs of explosives in Faridabad, Haryana. Speaking to ANI, he questioned the lack of answers about the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and called recent flight disruptions due to an AMSS glitch a “cyber-attack.” Khera said, “Apprehensions appear when you get no answers.” The seizure led to arrests of Dr Muzammil and Aadil Rather. Delhi also witnessed a Red Fort blast on Monday evening killing eight. Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a security review, examining possible links between the blast and the Faridabad explosives.

BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain condemned the Red Fort blast that killed eight and injured several, calling it “deeply saddening” and urging the Opposition to avoid premature statements. Speaking in Supaul, he said, “The Opposition should stop making statements until a report comes… All those involved in this will not be spared. Police and security agencies are investigating all angles.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review with senior officials from NIA, IB, NSG, and Delhi Police. Investigators are probing possible links between the blast and the recent Faridabad explosives seizure.

IG CRPF Rajesh Agrawal arrived at the Red Fort blast site in Delhi. He said, “Delhi Police will provide official updates. CRPF is offering any assistance required by them.”

1.5 hours meet chaired by Amit Shah concludes.

Delhi Police’s preliminary investigation indicates that the Red Fort car explosion may have been a ‘Fidayeen’ (suicide) attack. Authorities say the suspect likely planned the assault after discovering that the Faridabad module had been busted. All relevant agencies are examining every angle to determine the motive behind the blast.

Reacting to the Delhi car blast from Bhutan, PM Narendra Modi said, “…The conspirators behind this will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice.”

National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials reach the site of a car blast near Red Fort, which killed eight people. The explosion occurred yesterday at around 7 pm in a Hyundai i20.

Police sources told The Indian Express that they suspect Umar Nabi, a third doctor who went missing following the arrest of Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, to be the “bomber” seen in the CCTV footage.

After arresting Ganai, the police arrested Dr Adeel Majeed Rather from Qazigund.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that those who are responsible for the blast in the national capital will not be spared.

“Those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice and will not be spared under any circumstances,” Singh said.

Police officials have detained four suspects after overnight search operations at hotels in Paharganj, Daryaganj and nearby areas in Delhi, IANS reported.

They were detained after police reviewed hotel records and identified four individuals who appeared suspicious.

The death toll in the Red Fort blast has risen to 13, and the Red Fort has been shut for three days.

A team of NSG personnel has arrived at the Red Fort car blast site for investigation.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha has reached Amit Shah’s residence. High-level security review meeting to begin shortly.

Former J&K DGP Shesh Paul Vaid has shared insights on the suicide bomber identified in the blast. He said that Pulwama resident Dr Umar Nabi worked at Al Falah University.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Dr Umar Nabi, the blast suspect, who worked at Al Falah University and is a resident of Pulwama, Kashmir, is suspected to be the suicide bomber in the Delhi Red Fort blast.”

He added, “He became a suicide bomber even after qualifying as a doctor — the most sought-after profession in the valley….”

A chilling video shows the Hyundai i20 moments before the explosion occurred at the Red Fort.

Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting in the wake of the blast near the Red Fort that sent shockwaves across the entire country.

The meeting will be attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency, the Delhi Police Commissioner, and other senior officials at 11 am today, ANI reported.

DCP North Raja Banthia, while speaking on the Delhi blast case, said that an FIR has been registered under several sections of the BNS, UAPA and Explosives Act. He added that the investigation is in its initial stage and any comment on the incident “would be too premature”.

“An FIR has been registered under the UAPA, Explosives Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigation has been taken up, and there are many specialised teams of Delhi Police, FSL, NSG here on the scene of the crime, and they are lifting evidence possible to help in the investigation. The investigation is in a very preliminary stage. Any comment on that would be too premature…Post-mortems are also being conducted at LNJP. Five post-mortems have already been done…Yes, we have one or two unidentified bodies. We have already identified 6 bodies…,” DCP North told reporters.

A high alert has been declared across Maharashtra after a car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station in New Delhi. In response, security has been tightened at key locations in Mumbai and at major railway stations. According to officials, Mumbai has been placed under a precautionary alert as a safety measure. The blast, which occurred in a slow-moving car near the Red Fort crossing on Monday evening, killed nine people, injured 20 others, and destroyed several nearby vehicles. Police have directed all district unit commanders and city commissioners in Maharashtra to stay vigilant and take every step necessary to prevent any untoward incidents.

EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin offered his condolences to the victims of the Red Fort blast, expressing solidarity with India in this moment of tragedy. He said the European Union stands with the people of India during this difficult hour of grief.

“Our deepest condolences to the victims of the Delhi blast. While investigations by Indian authorities proceed, our first thoughts are with families who lost loved ones & with all those injured to whom we wish a swift recovery. We stand by Indian people in this moment of shock & grief,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Police have zeroed in on the investigation of the Red Fort blast and have linked a Pulwama resident to the deadly explosion.

Delhi Police have registered a case in connection with the explosion near the Red Fort under various Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, ANI reported.

“A case has been registered under sections 16, 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Explosives Act and the BNS at the Kotwali Police Station,” Delhi Police said.

Authorities have issued helpline numbers:

Delhi Police Emergency: 112 (24 hours, reports of missing persons will be investigated),

Delhi Police Control Room: 011-22910010 or 011-22910011

LNJP Hospital (where most of the injured are admitted): 011-23233400, Emergency 011-23239249 (can inquire in person or by phone)

Delhi Fire Service: 101

Ambulance: 102 or 108

AIIMS Trauma Center (if anyone has been shifted there): 011-26594405

According to the Indian Express, early findings from the investigation suggest the blast site shows no signs of shrapnel or cratering. “The injured do not have splinter wounds, and there is no crater at the spot. However, the explosion was so powerful that nearby vehicles were completely shattered,” a police officer told IE.

There was no smell of RDX detected at the scene, the report further stated.

According to preliminary assessments, the force of the explosion initially raised suspicions of a terror attack, but investigators now believe the location may not have been the intended target. It appears the material may have been in transit or the target could have been elsewhere, the officer added.

According to Indian Express, a list of those who died in the Delhi Red Fort blast or were injured has been released by the authorities.

The United States on Monday said it is closely tracking developments following the deadly blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which claimed at least eight lives and left many others injured.

A State Department spokesperson told PTI, “We are aware of the explosion near Red Fort in Delhi. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

Hours after a powerful blast in a “slow-moving” Hyundai i20 near Red Fort killed eight people and injured more than a dozen, investigators have begun tracing the ownership history of the vehicle involved, IE reported.

Police have questioned a Gurgaon resident in whose name the car is currently registered. The man has reportedly told investigators that he sold the vehicle some time ago. Investigators are working with the RTO to determine its present owner.

According to IE report, investigators are examining whether the car changed hands multiple times — first from the Gurgaon resident to a man based in Okhla, and later possibly to a resident of Ambala. Establishing this chain of ownership has become a key focus of the probe.

Once the vehicle number was confirmed, police checked it against surveillance databases. The Hyundai i20 was last captured by Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in Southeast Delhi’s Badarpur area in June, the report further stated.

When asked whether the Red Fort blast was a terrorist attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “We are keeping all angles open and investigating from every possible direction.” He added that it is too soon to say anything for sure.

Home Minister Amit Shah stated details from the blast and told ANI, “This evening, around 7 pm, a blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. Preliminary reports indicate that some people have lost their lives. Within 10 minutes of receiving the information of the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the spot. The NSG and NIA teams, along with the FSL, have now begun a thorough investigation. Orders have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras.”

A night before the polling for second phase of Bihar assembly election, the state has been put on high-alert. After Delhi, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh, security has been increased in the poll-bound state as well.