The Delhi blast investigation took a fresh turn on Thursday as officials seized a third car in connection with the attack. Security forces have since unearthed a “transnational, white-collar terror module” comprising of doctors, clerics and businessmen — seizing thousands of kilograms of explosives, detonators, timers and other bomb-making equipment during recent raids. Preliminary investigation suggests that the terrorists had planned to rig 32 vehicles with explosives to conduct a series of coordinated blasts across multiple cities.
According to reports, officials have now seized a Maruti Suzuki Brezza from the campus of Al-Falah University in Faridabad. The vehicle was registered under the name of key accused and university faculty Dr Shaheen Shahid. Security forces suggest that Umar Nabi and his associates had planned a “spectacular terror attack” involving multiple vehicles fitted with explosives and assault rifle fire.
DNA testing confirmed that Nabi (also an Al-Falah doctor) had driven the Hyundai i20 car into Old Delhi before detonating the explosion. The terror module had reportedly obtained two other vehicles — a Ford EcoSport and the Maruti Brezza — for potential use in the attacks.
“After the i20 and EcoSport, it came to light that preparations were underway to ready 32 more old vehicles which could be fitted with explosives,” an intelligence source told ANI.
Investigators believe that their initial plan had been to execute coordinated explosions at four locations — with eight suspects moving in pairs and carrying multiple improvised explosive devices.