NEW DELHI: A powerful blast near Delhi's Red Fort metro station killed nine people and injured 20 others when a Hyundai i20 car exploded on Monday evening. Police sources revealed that the driver, Umar Mohammad, a doctor from Pulwama, had connections to a recently uncovered Faridabad terror module where authorities seized 2,900 kg of explosives earlier that day.
The blast occurred around 6.52pm at a traffic signal, destroying several vehicles and damaging nearby buildings. Initial investigations suggest the use of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators in the explosion, according to news agency PTI.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha stated: "There were passengers inside the vehicle. Other vehicles nearby were also affected. Teams from the Delhi Police, FSL, NIA, and NSG inspected the place of occurrence and are taking stock of the situation."
Police sources indicate a possible connection between the Delhi blast and the Faridabad terror module, where authorities recovered 360 kg of ammonium nitrate. The total seizure in Faridabad included ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur.
CCTV footage shows a masked man driving the car that exploded. Multiple police teams are reviewing surveillance footage from the Red Fort vicinity and surrounding routes.
According to sources, the vehicle was parked in a nearby parking lot for three hours before the explosion. Police are monitoring footage from various parking lots in the area.
The car was allegedly provided to Umar Mohammad by a man named Tariq from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who has been arrested. Sources suggest Mohammad carried out the attack fearing arrest after his associates were captured.
Hours before the Delhi blast, authorities arrested eight people, including three doctors, and uncovered what they called a "white collar" terror module.
Sources allege that Umar Mohammad was associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror module and was another doctor connected to the Faridabad operation.
Security measures across Delhi have been intensified following the incident. All vehicles entering the capital are undergoing thorough verification at border points.
Police conducted overnight search operations at hotels and guest houses in Daryaganj and Paharganj areas to locate potential suspects.
A police source said: "Teams have been asked to stay alert, attend all emergency-related calls, intensify checking in their area, and report any suspicious activity immediately."
The explosion's impact shattered window panes of nearby buildings and the metro station's glass panels. Ten fire tenders responded to the scene, and firefighters controlled the blaze by 7.29 pm.
Among the deceased were Ashok Kumar, 34, from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, and Amar Kataria, 35, from Delhi. The other victims, aged between 28 and 58 years, remain unidentified. One body was recovered from the car's wreckage.
The injured victims include 12 Delhi residents and eight from other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. They are receiving treatment at LNJP Hospital.
Police have registered an FIR and multiple teams from the Special Cell, Forensic Science Laboratory, and local police are investigating the incident. They are exploring whether this was a suicide bombing or part of a larger terror plot.
Local traders shared videos showing the explosion's aftermath, including damaged vehicles, scattered debris, and casualties at the blast site.
All police stations in Delhi have been directed to maintain strict vigilance at local markets, metro stations, bus stands, and railway stations as investigations continue.
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