Delhi Red Fort Blast: NIA Likely To Take Over Probe As Police Suspect Terror Link

A day after a powerful car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort killed nine people and left 20 others injured, investigators are closing in on the identity of the suspected bomber, even as the probe is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Preliminary findings suggest that the blast, which ripped through a Hyundai i20 vehicle outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station around 6:52 p.m. on Monday, may have been an act of terror.

The Delhi Police have invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) following forensic evidence and intelligence inputs indicating possible links to terror groups.

Sources told NDTV that investigators believe Umar Mohammad, a 29-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir, was driving the vehicle when it exploded.

Also, read| Delhi Horror: At Least 8 Killed, 24 Injured In Powerful Car Explosion Near Chandni Chowk

Severely charred body parts found at the scene are now being subjected to DNA testing to confirm his identity.“Some human remains have been recovered from inside the mangled car. Samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for DNA profiling,” an officer from the Delhi Police Special Cell told NDTV.

Investigators have also traced the vehicle’s registration to Mohd Salman, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, who reportedly sold the car several months ago.

The car is believed to have changed hands multiple times, with the last known owner linked to Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. Visuals from Salman’s former residence in Delhi showed police teams collecting documents and speaking to neighbours.

The explosion comes just hours after Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered nearly 3,000 kg of explosive material from two residential buildings in Faridabad, Haryana.

Also, read| Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates To Severe Level: Several Areas Record AQI Above 400

The cache included 350 kg of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound often misused to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The materials were seized following the arrest of Dr Adil Rather, a physician based in Jammu and Kashmir, whose interrogation reportedly led authorities to the Faridabad stash. Investigators are now examining whether the Delhi blast is connected to the same network.

Following the blast, the Lal Qila Metro Station remains closed due to security reasons, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed on social media. “All other stations are functional as normal,” DMRC said in a post.

Security has been tightened across the National Capital Region (NCR) and other metros, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, as a precautionary measure. In Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have placed the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on high alert.

CCTV and mobile footage from Chandni Chowk and nearby areas captured the moment of the explosion. In one clip, a slow-moving white Hyundai i20 can be seen halting briefly before a massive blast engulfs it in flames, sending bystanders running for cover. The footage shows a bustling Monday evening turning into chaos within seconds.

The investigation is currently being handled jointly by the Delhi Police Special Cell, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and teams from the National Security Guard (NSG).

The Union Home Ministry confirmed that the NIA is likely to take over the case soon.
Home Minister Amit Shah stated that “all angles” are being examined. “No possibility is being ruled out at this stage,” he said in a brief statement.

Authorities have set up multiple helplines for information regarding the injured and missing persons:

• Delhi Police Emergency: 112

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

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

• AIIMS Trauma Centre: 011-26594405

• Ambulance Services: 102 / 108