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A Powerful car explosion outside an iconic monument in India’s capital Delhi At least eight people died and 20 others were injured, prompting the police to launch an investigation. IndiaAnti-terrorism law.
The explosion occurred at around 6.52 pm on Monday evening. Near a metro station gate of the Red Fort in the evening, police said.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether the blast was an act of terrorism as police investigated the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s primary law to investigate terrorism-related crimes and activities seen as a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
federal home minister Amit Shah Said, “All aspects are being investigated and security agencies will reach a conclusion soon.”
Here’s everything we know about the explosion.
How did the explosion happen?
Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the incident occurred when a slow-moving Hyundai i20 stopped at a traffic signal and exploded, damaging several vehicles nearby.
Eyewitnesses described an atmosphere of panic as flames engulfed cars and people fled the area. Suman Mishra said, “I was at the metro station, going down the stairs, when I heard an explosion. I looked back and saw a fire. People started running here and there.” Another witness, Wali ur Rehman, told ANI news agency: “I collapsed from the impact of the blast, it was very intense.”
Scene of anarchy and vandalism at Red Fort
According to the city’s deputy fire chief, at least six cars and three auto-rickshaws caught fire. Police and fire brigade personnel arrived within minutes and the fire was brought under control by 7.36 pm. The road near Chandni Chowk market area was filled with damaged cars, broken windows and scattered debris.
The explosion was so powerful that a police post 100 meters away was destroyed and car fragments were found up to 200 meters away from the blast site.
What has been revealed in the preliminary investigation?
Investigators have traced the vehicle involved in the blast to a 34-year-old man from Pulwama district of Indian-administered Kashmir. Sources said he had reportedly purchased a Hyundai i20 on October 29, a few weeks before the blast. Indian ExpressHis identity has not been revealed yet.
Hours after the blast, police questioned a man from Gurugram, a city neighboring Delhi, who previously owned the car. He claimed to have sold it, prompting investigators to work with the regional transportation office to trace its subsequent ownership. Authorities later determined that the vehicle had changed hands several times before reaching the Pulwama resident.
CCTV footage shows the car entering the parking lot near the Red Fort at 3.19 pm and leaving at 6.48 pm, minutes before the blast. The footage also shows the driver taking a parking slip. Investigators are reviewing video from nearby roads and toll barriers to map the car’s entire route through Delhi.
The blast occurred just a day after police in Jammu and Kashmir unearthed 350 kg of explosives from two residential buildings in Faridabad city of neighboring Haryana state. Investigators are looking into whether the two incidents are connected.
What was the nature of the explosive device?
Preliminary findings show that no craters were formed at the site and the injured victims did not suffer from shrapnel wounds, raising questions over the type of explosive used. Those injured were severely burned and their limbs were crushed, police said, which was caused by a powerful heat-based explosion rather than a conventional bomb.
Legal experts say the UAPA allows sweeping powers to investigate, but the police will need to establish strong forensic evidence and clear chain of custody to ensure a case in court – especially if terrorism charges are leveled.
Mr Shah said teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were at the site “within 10 minutes” of the blast. “We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation… all options will be examined immediately,” he said. Narendra Modi Information was given about the situation.
What has the Indian Prime Minister said?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for those killed in the blast.
“Condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi this evening. May the injured recover soon… those affected are being assisted by the authorities,” he wrote on Twitter.
High alert has been issued in Delhi and neighboring states. at the US Embassy New Delhi Also advised its citizens to stay away from the area and be cautious in tourist areas.
What is Red Fort?
The Red Fort, or Red Fort, is a 17th-century Mughal fort and UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Indian Prime Minister delivers the annual Independence Day address every 15 August. The fort is located near Chandni Chowk, one of the busiest markets of Delhi, and the Jama Masjid mosque.
Delhi has faced deadly bomb blasts in the past, including one outside the Delhi High Court in 2011 that killed 12 people. Monday’s blast is one of the capital’s most serious incidents in more than a decade.