Delhi blast: Initial probe suggests detonators used, links with Faridabad terror module

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 11, 2025: The man driving the car that exploded near the Red Fort killing at least nine people allegedly also had links to the Faridabad terror module where huge cache of explosive material was seized, Delhi Police sources said on Tuesday.

According to sources, Umar Mohammad, a Pulwama resident and a doctor, was allegedly driving the Hyundai i20 car that was used in the explosion near the parking area of the Red Fort Metro Station.

Preliminary findings by police suggest ammonium nitrate, fuel oil and detonators may have been used in the blast near the Red Fort that killed at least nine people, police sources said.

A police source said initial findings suggest a possible link between the Delhi blast to the Faridabad terror module where 360 kg of ammonium nitrate was seized. "Final reports are awaited," the source added.

Police said CCTV footage of the car that exploded shows a "masked man" driving the car. Multiple teams have been deployed to scan CCTV from the vicinity of the Red Fort and adjoining routes, they added.

Delhi Police remains on high alert after a powerful blast ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, killing at least nine people, injuring 20 people and leaving several vehicles gutted.

Hours before the blast in Delhi, eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a “white collar” terror module on Monday.

The 2,900 kg of explosive material recovered in Faridabad includes ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur. Of this, 360 kg of inflammable material suspected to be ammonium nitrate and some arms and ammunition were recovered, according to police.

Police sources alleged Umar Mohammad was another doctor in the Faridabad module who have already been arrested.

Umar Mohammad, who is a doctor by profession, was allegedly associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror module, they said.

According to sources, a man named Tariq from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who has been arrested, is said to have given the Hyundai i20 car to Umar Mohammad.

After his fellow doctors who were part of the terror module were arrested, Umar Mohammad allegedly carried out this terror attack fearing that he too might be caught, sources added.

Following the blast, security across the national capital has been intensified, and vehicle checking at all border points intensified as well.

All vehicles entering Delhi, whether private or commercial, are being thoroughly checked and verified as part of heightened security measures, officials said.

"Multiple teams have been deployed to scan CCTV footage from the vicinity of the Red Fort and adjoining routes to know more about the masked man driving the Hyundai i20 car in which the explosion occurred," a police source said.

"We also got to know that the vehicle was parked in a nearby parking lot for three hours, before the blast. Footage of different parking lots are also bening monitored," the source added.

He added that an overnight search operation was conducted at hotels and guest houses in Daryaganj and Paharganj areas to trace possible suspects.

Police checked hotel registers, verified entries, and questioned several staff members to identify anyone matching the suspect’s description.

All police stations in the national capital have been asked to stay alert and maintain strict vigil at local markets, metro stations, bus stands, and railway stations.

"Teams have been asked to stay alert, attend all emergency-related calls, intensify checking in their area, and report any suspicious activity immediately," said a police officer.

Police have registered an FIR into the matter and multiple teams from the Special Cell, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and local police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion. They are also probing whether it could be a case of a "suicide bombing" or a larger terror plot, said the source.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha had said the explosion took place around 6.52 pm in a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro Station.

"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," he said.

Officers said the blast was so powerful that it gutted several vehicles and shattered window panes of nearby cars, buildings, and glass panels of the metro station. According to the Delhi Fire Services, ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the blaze was brought under control by 7.29 pm.

"All the senior officers are also looking that the blast related to Faridabad terror network," another source said.

Videos shared by local traders showed the magnitude of the explosion --” mangled bodies, damaged vehicles, and scattered debris near the blast site.

Police said nine people were killed, while 20 others, including two women, were injured and taken to LNJP Hospital. Among the injured, 12 are residents of Delhi, and eight belong to other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

The deceased include Ashok Kumar (34) from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, and Amar Kataria (35) from Delhi, while others remain unidentified and are aged between 28 and 58 years. One mutilated body was recovered from the mangled remains of the car, officials said. 

Police registers FIR under UAPA, Explosives Act; what we know so far about the explosion near Red Fort that killed 9

A major blast took place in a parked car near Red Fort Metro Station, according to Delhi Fire Services. The blast took place in a Hyundai i20 car and Delhi Police have detained the owner of the vehicle.

The car reportedly had three occupants, and the police is probing if it was a suicide bomber attack.

On Tuesday morning, Delhi Police registered an FIR under the UAPA Act, Explosives Act.

Raids are being conducted at multiple locations by Delhi Police. The national capital has been placed on high alert with strict vigil being maintained at the airport, railway stations and bus terminals.

According to a senior police officer, an FIR has been registered at Kotwali police station under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act and sections of the BNS.

9 killed, 20 injured

The explosion killed nine people and 20 have been injured. According to preliminary reports, eight persons were declared dead, the toll overnight increased to nine.

News agency PTI reported that 20 people, including 2 women, were injured in the blast, adding that the injured were taken to the LNJP Hospital, a few kilometres away.

High alert

A high alert has been sounded in Delhi and a few other parts of the country.

Major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have been put on high alert after the explosion in the national capital. Red alert has also been sounded in Punjab.

"In the wake of the blast in New Delhi, a red alert has been sounded across all districts in the state of Punjab," a Punjab police department spokesperson informed PTI.

Suicide bomber attack?

A probe is underway to know if it was a suicide bomber attack.

"The blast occurred in a moving Hyundai i20 car in which three people were sitting. We have not found any pellet or puncture in the body of the injured, which is unusual in a blast. We are investigating all angles," said a senior police officer.

The blast occurred hours after the recovery of around 2,900 kg of IED-making material and a cache of arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctor’s rented accommodation in Faridabad, bordering Delhi. The police is probing whether the two developments have a link.

Govt, police look into situation

According to PTI, Delhi Police chief Satish Golcha said that the explosion happened in a slow moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal around 6.52 pm, where occupants were also present.

Government sources have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation in Delhi and is also speaking to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shah also visited the blast site and met the victims at the LNJP Hospital, spoke to the Delhi police chief and the director of the Intelligence Bureau to take stock of the situation.

Chandni Chowk market will stay closed on Tuesday following the blast, market association president Sanjay Bhargaw said, according to PTI.

Car details; who owned it?

The car involved in the incident was Hyundai i20 with registration number HR 26 CE 7674.

The Delhi Police detained car owner Mohd. Salman late in the evening and questioned him about the vehicle, the officer said, adding that he sold it to a person in Okhla namely Devendra one-and-a-half years ago.

Later, the vehicle was sold to someone in Ambala and it was again sold to a man named Tariq in Pulwama, and police are tracing the people, the officer said.

While the car was sold by Salman, it was learned that the buyer had not changed the registration. 

Eyewitnesses speak about ’deafening’ explosion

Eyewitnesses shared that the deadly explosion, heard over a wide area up to ITO, covering around two kms, was deafening and they were unable to hear anything clearly after several minutes.

Sanjay Bhargaw, whose shop is within a kilometre radius from the incident site, said an entire building shook due to the blast and there was chaos in the Chadini Chowk market as people started running in fear.

Another witness was at a nearby gurdwara when the incident unfolded. "I was at the gurdwara when I heard a loud sound. We were dumbfounded. A number of vehicles were completely damaged."

Heart-rending scenes outside hospital

Confusion and grief marked the atmosphere at the Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Monday night as families waited anxiously for word on their loved ones.

An elderly man was seen pleading with the police and hospital guards to let him inside to check on his son. He was finally allowed after a heated argument.

Mohammad Danish, the cousin of auto-rickshaw driver Sameer Khan, who was injured in the blast, said a stranger called him to inform him about the incident. "Sameer is in the ICU. We still don’t know how bad his situation is," he said.

Leaders express grief

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta condoled the loss of lives and appealed to people to maintain calm and avoid rumours. Calling the incident "extremely distressing and alarming", Gupta expressed her deepest sympathies to those who lost their loved ones.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blast and prayed to Lord Ram to grant peace to the departed souls. Adityanath tweeted, “The loss of lives in the unfortunate blast in Delhi today is extremely tragic. My condolences are with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones prematurely.”

"Anguished by the loss of lives in the tragic car blast in New Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured," BJP president and Union Health Minister J P Nadda wrote on X. 

Several other leaders acknowledged the high-intensity explosion in Delhi.