Delhi Red Fort car blast: Police invoke terror law as Modi cites 'conspiracy'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Monday’s deadly car explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort as a “conspiracy,” vowing that those responsible will face justice.

"I assure everyone that the agencies will get to the bottom of the entire conspiracy," Modi said in a speech during a state visit to neighbouring Bhutan, without giving further details.

"All those involved will be brought to justice," he said.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that Lal Quila metro station will remain closed on Wednesday, November 12, as a precautionary security measure.

All other metro stations across the network will operate normally, the DMRC confirmed.

Top intelligence sources told NDTV that the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort may have been caused by suspects panicking while handling explosives.

The sources said the suspects likely made a mistake under pressure after nationwide raids on terror suspects and the seizure of 2,900 kg of bomb-making chemicals in Faridabad, Haryana, prompting them to relocate and triggering the incomplete IED explosion.

Three days before the suicide bombing near Delhi’s Red Fort, Dr Umar Nabi switched off his phone, leaving his family unable to reach him, reports NDTV.

Authorities are investigating his movements leading up to the attack to uncover potential links and motives.

The UK has revised its travel advisory for British nationals travelling to India following the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urged UK citizens in Delhi to follow the instructions of local authorities.

“There has been an explosion at the Red Fort (Lal Qila) Metro Station, New Delhi,” the advisory states.

“If you're in the immediate area, follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media,” it adds.

Following the Red Fort blast, IndiGo has issued a travel advisory advising passengers to arrive early at airports due to heightened security measures. Secondary security checks may be required before boarding.

In a post on X, the airline said: “Enhanced security measures are currently in place at all airports. We kindly request all customers to arrive early to allow adequate time for entry checks, security screening, and check-in. We appreciate your patience and cooperation and look forward to welcoming you on board. Safe travels.”

The UAE has strongly condemned the bombing in central New Delhi that killed and injured dozens of innocent people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the UAE’s strong denunciation of such criminal acts and reaffirmed its rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.

The ministry extended sincere condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of India, wishing a speedy recovery for those injured in the attack.

The deadly Red Fort blast near the metro station has claimed 10 lives, injured 25, and destroyed several vehicles, prompting massive raids and fresh arrests. Umar Mohammad, a doctor from Pulwama, is alleged to have driven the Hyundai i20 used in the explosion and is reportedly linked to a Faridabad terror module, where authorities seized 2,900 kg of explosives, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate.

Preliminary investigations suggest his association with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror network, with initial probes indicating the use of Ammonium-Nitrate Fuel-Oil (ANFO) and detonators. Delhi Police have registered an FIR under the UAPA and Explosives Act, treating the incident as a terror attack and conspiracy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level security review with top officials, while a nationwide alert remains in place at airports, metro stations, bus stands, railway stations, and border points. Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that all conspirators would be brought to justice, and he is expected to chair the Cabinet Committee on Security tomorrow as the investigation into the wider terror network continues.

Three more doctors from Al Falah University in Faridabad are being questioned by the police Crime Branch in connection with the Delhi blast and related arrests.

The Red Fort blast investigation has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after Delhi Police detained several suspects for questioning. Security agencies, guided by Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, are working to uncover the wider conspiracy behind the attack. Intelligence sources say the incident marks a key development in tracking interstate terror networks, with prior warnings from Operation Sindoor indicating that multiple terrorist groups had been planning coordinated attacks across India.

A team of more than 500 security officials has been formed to investigate the blast and has been assigned different tasks to carry out the probe, said sources on Tuesday.

The team will consist of officers and soldiers from the various security agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), NIA, NSG, Special Cell, and local police.

Officers from the level of constable to Inspector, ACP, DCP, Additional CP, Joint CP, and Special CP have been included in the team, the sources said.

All of them are investigating the blast by forming various teams, each assigned different tasks.

At least eight people were killed in the blast near Gate No. 1 of Delhi's Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening. As per the details, the victims of tragedy include residents of national capital as well as migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, who visited the city either for meeting their relatives or for business purposes. The youngest among the deceased included 21-year-old Shivam Jha.

According to officials, 14 injured victims are residents of the national capital, three injured were from Uttar Pradesh, while one injured person each was from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

All victims were rushed to LNJP Hospital, located just a few kilometres from the site.

The youngest victim has been identified as 21-year-old Shivam Jha from Usmanpur, Delhi, according to the list shared by LNJP Hospital.

Other victims who have been identified included 34-year-old Ashok Kumar from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, and 35-year-old Amar Kataria from Delhi.

Nouman, a resident of Jhijhana in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, was also among those who lost their lives in the blast. He worked in the cosmetics business and had come to Delhi to collect supplies.

Another victim, Mohsin, 35, from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, had been living in Delhi for several years to support his family. His grieving family has arrived at LNJP Hospital to collect his body, as the post-mortem examination continues.

Amar Kataria, a pharmaceutical businessman from Sriniwaspuri, was another victim of the blast. The 34-year-old had closed his pharmacy in Bhagirath Palace, around six kilometres from Red Fort, and was heading home when the explosion took place.

The white Hyundai i20 car that exploded on Netaji Subhash Marg in Delhi near the Red Fort was parked outside a Mosque for nearly two hours before the incident.

The police managed to piece together the route of the vehicle by obtaining CCTV footage from the area.

The footage shows the three occupants of the car driving from Daryaganj Market towards the Mosque's parking lot near the Red Fort at around 4 p.m.

The blast took place at around 6.31 p.m., the police said. The car then took a U-turn near the Old Delhi Railway Station and then headed towards Lower Subhash Marg.

The car slowed down at the traffic signal on Chhata Rail Chowk, and then the explosion occurred, the police said.

Following the explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station in the national capital, a fresh traffic advisory was issued by the Delhi Traffic Police on Tuesday morning, advising people to take alternative routes to avoid hassles.

Security measures have been intensified across the national capital. Traffic diversions are also in effect, so commuters should anticipate delays, particularly around the Red Fort area.

Traffic limitations and reroutes have been implemented on both lanes and the service road of Netaji Subhash Marg, according to the police. The restrictions will be enforced on the section between Chhatta Rail Cut and Subhash Marg Cut.

The preliminary investigation into the car explosion outside Delhi's Red Fort suggests that it could be an act of terror. Investigators have confirmed that a Hyundai i20 car was packed with explosives and it was deliberately detonated near Gate No.1 of the Red Fort Metro Station.

Investigations suggest that it was a suicide attack, and there could be a link to the Faridabad module, which was busted by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

Forensic officials who were present at the spot have learnt that a high-end explosive had been used. They suspect that the car was laden with both ammonium nitrate and RDX.

Officials say that nothing is being ruled out at the moment, while adding that all angles point towards an act of terror. Module is suspected to have played a major role in supplying the explosives and also planning the attack. The police also suspect that one Dr Umar Mohammad, who was part of the Faridabad module, was present in the car at the time of the explosion.

Following the high-intensity explosion outside the Red Fort, the teams of Delhi Police carried out an extensive night-long search operation across hotels in Paharganj, Daryaganj, and nearby areas.

All hotel registers were thoroughly examined during the raids.

During the operation, four individuals were taken into custody for questioning.

According to the sources, the i20 car, in which the blast had occurred, had entered Delhi from Haryana via Badarpur.

Crime scene investigators scoured through the wreckage of a car on Tuesday that exploded hours earlier in the heart of the capital, killing at least eight people.

At dawn on Tuesday, AFP reporters at the site of the explosion said police white sheets had been erected around the charred remains of vehicles overnight.

Both forensic and anti-terrorism agencies were searching for evidence, while security was increased across New Delhi.

The Delhi Police revealed crucial details from CCTV footage that tracked the suspect vehicle's movements hours before the explosion.

CCTV footage shows that the white i20 car was parked near the Red Fort parking area at around 3:19 p.m., remaining there for nearly three hours before it exited the parking at approximately 6:48 p.m.

The car was seen leaving the parking area at a time when there was heavy crowd movement in the vicinity, police officials said.

The footage is being closely examined to determine who brought the vehicle to the parking area, who entered or exited the car, and who later drove it out. Investigators are also tracing the vehicle's full route, from where it originated, how it reached the Red Fort parking, and how it later proceeded toward the traffic signal located directly in front of the monument.

Police officials confirmed that over 100 CCTV clips are being analyzed, including footage from nearby roads and parking toll plazas, to map the vehicle's journey and identify the suspect. "The suspect appears to be alone in the footage," Delhi Police sources said, adding that the route toward Daryaganj is now under examination.

Investigators will also question the parking attendant on duty at the time to gather more information about the car's arrival and departure.

Security has been stepped up nationwide following a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, officials said.

A high-intensity explosion tore through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro Station, killing at least eight people and destroying several vehicles.

Twenty-four others were injured in the blast, which occurred during peak evening hours when the area was crowded, officials added.

• Delhi Police Emergency (24 hours / missing persons): 112

• Delhi Police Control Room: 011-22910010 | 011-22910011

• LNJP Hospital (most injured admitted): 011-23233400 | Emergency: 011-23239249

• Delhi Fire Service: 101

• Ambulance: 102 | 108

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

Sources reveal that the Hyundai i20 linked to the Delhi blast had changed hands multiple times before the explosion. The vehicle was most recently sold to a man named Tariq from Pulwama. Officials say fake documents may have been used during the car’s purchase and resale.

Investigators are continuing efforts to trace the original owner, whose identity remains unknown.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort is being investigated “from all angles,” with no possibilities ruled out, including terrorism. Multi-agency teams, including the NIA, NSG, and FSL, are probing the incident.

Investigation underway

Shah added: “It is very difficult to say what caused the incident until the samples recovered from the blast site are analysed by FSL and NSG. We will investigate all angles with determination.”

Teams from Delhi Police Special Cell, Crime Branch, NIA, SPG, and FSL reached the site immediately after the blast to conduct a thorough investigation. Shah said he hopes agencies will determine the cause of the blast shortly.

The US Embassy in India has issued a security alert following the car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed at least eight people.

In its advisory, the embassy urged American citizens in India to avoid areas around the Red Fort and stay alert, particularly in crowded locations and popular tourist spots. Citizens were also advised to monitor local media and follow instructions from local authorities.

The car involved in Monday’s blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has been traced by police. Registered in Haryana, the vehicle’s owner has been taken into custody, officials said.

Eight bodies have been confirmed following the incident, officials said.

Two more bodies, discovered without heads and arms, remain unidentified. Another victim has died from third-degree burns to the face, making identification difficult, officials added.

Following the powerful explosion outside Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, which killed at least 10 people and injured 24 others, security agencies have placed the national capital on high alert. The alert extends to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, as well as Metro and railway stations across Delhi and the NCR.

“Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover at the earliest. Authorities are assisting those affected. I have reviewed the situation with Home Minister Amit Shah Ji and other officials,” PM Modi posted on X.

A live bullet was discovered on the ground after a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort killed at least 13 people, NDTV reports.

Officials confirmed that the blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 carrying three people. The explosion originated at the rear of the vehicle, with no craters found at the site. Authorities also confirmed that none of the injured or deceased had nails, wires, or burn marks. A Special Cell team, along with forensic experts, is examining the vehicle remains to trace its registration number and gather further evidence.

Following the blast near Red Fort Metro station, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has issued a high alert across the country — including airports, Delhi Metro, heritage sites, government buildings and other key installations under its security cover.

Several states have been put on alert in the wake of Delhi blast.

Teams are on alert in Bihar, and everyone is being checked, news agency ANI reported. Security has also been tightened across Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, Kerala Police chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar has directed the police to strengthen security across the state.

An alert has also been issued in Haryana. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after receiving information about the incident from Director General of Police Rajiv Krishna, has given instructions to keep the entire police force in Uttar Pradesh on high alert and ensure intensive checking and security arrangements.

Following the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, Chandni Chowk market will remain closed on Tuesday, according to Sanjay Bhargawa, president of the market association. Authorities continue investigations and security checks in the area to ensure public safety.

The Haryana government has issued a statewide alert after the explosion in New Delhi. All district authorities, especially those bordering Delhi, have been instructed to exercise caution. Special vigilance has been advised at crowded public areas and historical sites.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal called the explosion near the Red Fort “extremely alarming” and demanded an immediate, thorough investigation, warning that negligence regarding Delhi’s security cannot be tolerated. AAP leader Manish Sisodia urged citizens to remain united and maintain peace, while Congress leader Pawan Khera called for a swift and transparent probe.

Businessman Robert Vadra expressed shock and urged people to stay safe, and former Delhi CM Atishi called for strict action against the culprits. Leaders across parties have expressed grief over the casualties and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

At around 6:52 pm, a slow-moving car stopped at a red light near Delhi’s Red Fort when it suddenly exploded, damaging several nearby vehicles, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said. Multiple agencies, including the Delhi Police Crime Branch, are conducting a joint investigation at the site.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Bihar politician Mukesh Sahani expressed condolences following the deadly car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday, which killed at least eight people and injured a dozen others.

Athawale urged the public to avoid rumours, noting that security agencies are conducting a thorough investigation, while Sahani prayed for strength and recovery for the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the situation following the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, according to government sources. He spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah to receive updates on the ongoing investigation and security measures in the capital.

Sanjay Bhargava, president of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, told Indian Express: “All shops have now been closed. The roads are jam-packed, and there’s panic among shoppers. People are rushing to leave…there’s a long queue outside the market’s parking area as everyone is trying to get to their cars and exit as quickly as possible.”

Eyewitnesses described a deafening blast that shook windows and sparked panic in the densely populated area.

Local resident Rajdhar Pandey told ANI, “I saw the flames from my house and then came down… my windows shook.” Another said, “We saw body parts spread on the road… several cars were damaged.” A shopkeeper added, “It felt as if we were all going to die.”

Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrived to investigate, while authorities work to determine the cause.

The explosion occurred outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort, directly opposite the pedestrian stretch of Chandni Chowk.

Sanjay Bhargava, president of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, told Indian Express: “All shops have now been closed. The roads are jam-packed, and there’s panic among shoppers. People are rushing to leave…there’s a long queue outside the market’s parking area as everyone is trying to get to their cars and exit as quickly as possible.”

The deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed eight people, occurred a day before Bihar goes to polls for phase 2. Votes for this phase will be counted on November 14.

Following the Red Fort explosion, Mumbai, Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have been placed on high alert.

Uttar Pradesh ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash told ANI that the DGP has instructed senior officials to boost security at sensitive religious sites, districts, and border areas. All security agencies have been alerted, and police across the state have been put on high alert. Orders from Lucknow call for increased patrols and checks in sensitive locations.

A team from the Delhi Police Special Cell has reached the site of the blast. “As of now, I can't tell you anything. Investigation is being done,” a Delhi Police official told media.

All police units have been ordered to remain on high alert. While the cause of the explosion is still unclear, officials have not ruled out the possibility of a fuel cylinder or an explosive device inside the car. Forensic teams are analysing the remains as the investigation continues.

Delhi Police have restricted entry and exit at Gates 1 and 4 of the Lal Quila (Red Fort) Metro Station following an explosion outside Gate 1 that has killed at least eight people.

According to a DMRC spokesperson, metro services are continuing to run normally across the network, media reports.

At least eight people have been killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort. Authorities have sounded a high alert across the city.

“When we came near, we saw body parts scattered on the road. No one could figure out what happened. Several cars were also damaged,” a local resident told ANI.

He added, “When we saw someone's hand on the road, we were absolutely shocked. I can't explain it in words…”

“I saw the flames from my house and rushed down to see what had happened. There was a loud explosion. I live nearby,” said local resident Rajdhar Pandey to ANI.

Several people were injured in a blast near Gate No 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. Multiple casualties have been admitted to LNJP hospital, sources told ANI.

Footage from the scene shows large crowds gathered as multiple vehicles burned. One video captured a van with its doors blown off, a badly mangled car, another with a shattered windscreen, and an injured man lying on the ground.

A high alert has been issued in Delhi following a car explosion near the Red Fort at around 6:30 pm on Monday. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the scene to control the fire and secure the area.

At least one person has died and four others have been injured. Authorities said the fire has been extinguished, and the cooling work is in progress.

The Delhi Fire Department received a report of a car explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station.

Around 25 fire engines were rushed to the site, while police cordoned off the area and restricted normal traffic.

An explosion in a car near Gate No. 1 of Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening sent thick smoke into the air, sparking panic in the high‑security area.

Three other vehicles also caught fire following the blast, officials said. Police and fire teams rushed to the scene and quickly brought the blaze under control.

The Delhi Fire Department said it received a call at around 6:55 pm, dispatching seven fire tenders and 15 CAT ambulances. Preliminary reports indicate some people sustained injuries.

Forensic teams are examining the site to determine the cause, while authorities continue to investigate and the area remains cordoned off to rule out any foul play.