The powerful explosion outside Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening is now being investigated as a fidayeen-style terror attack, allegedly carried out by Dr Mohammad Umar, a key operative of the Faridabad-based terror module busted last week, top intelligence sources said.
According to initial findings, Umar is believed to have detonated the explosives-laden Hyundai i20 near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, killing nine people and injuring several others.
The blast, which occurred around 6:52 pm, engulfed multiple nearby vehicles in flames and sent shockwaves across the busy area.
Suspect’s Background and Motivation
Sources said Dr Mohammad Umar, a practicing doctor linked to the Faridabad module, panicked following the arrest of his associate Dr Muzammil Shakeel, the prime accused in the same network.
Intelligence officials believe Umar may have chosen to go down in a suicide-style attack rather than face arrest.
“Umar planned and executed the bombing along with two others,” a senior intelligence official said. “After Shakeel’s arrest, he felt the group’s cover had been blown and decided to carry out a fidayeen-style operation.”
CCTV Footage and Forensic Evidence
Footage accessed by investigators shows Umar alone inside the Hyundai i20 in the hours before the explosion. Sources said he did not step out of the car at any point, confirming suspicions that he triggered the detonation himself.
A charred body recovered from the car is believed to be that of Umar. Delhi Police have said that DNA testing will be conducted to confirm his identity.
Explosive Material and Method
Forensic experts suspect that Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) — a highly combustible industrial explosive — was used to carry out the attack. The material was likely assembled inside the car using a detonator device before the vehicle was driven into the crowded Red Fort area.
Eyewitnesses described the intensity of the explosion. “The blast was so powerful that street lights went off and flames leapt several feet high,” one witness said.
Network and Car Trail Under Probe
Investigators are also focusing on Tariq, a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, who allegedly purchased the Hyundai i20 later used in the blast. He has been taken into custody for interrogation.
Records show the car changed ownership multiple times before reaching Umar — from Mohammad Salman to Nadeem, then to a Faridabad-based dealer, Royal Car Zone, before being bought by Tariq and finally handed to Umar. Officials believe this sequence of transfers was a deliberate attempt to obscure the vehicle’s trail.
Terror Module Link
Sources said the Faridabad module played a key role in procuring materials, planning logistics, and coordinating with other operatives. The network is suspected to have connections with terror financing and arms smuggling operations across northern India.
While the exact motive behind the Red Fort bombing is still being pieced together, security agencies believe it was an act of desperation carried out after the group realized their network was compromised.
Investigation Underway
Police and intelligence agencies have intensified searches across Delhi-NCR and adjoining states. Multiple agencies, including the NIA, NSG, and Delhi Police’s Special Cell, are jointly investigating the case. Forensic teams continue to gather evidence from the blast site, which remains under heavy security cordon.