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in officers India They are investigating a deadly car explosion in the capital that killed at least eight people and injured several others, officials said Tuesday.
The explosion took place late Monday night near the historic Red Fort. New DelhiAuthorities have not said what caused the explosion, but the news agency Press Trust of India It was told that the police have registered a case under anti-terrorism laws.
Here’s what you need to know about the eruption:
A car exploded while waiting at a red light
The home minister said the blast occurred just before 7pm local time on Tuesday and was believed to have come from a Hyundai i20 car that had stopped at a traffic signal. Amit Shah Said. The explosion caused a fire that engulfed several nearby cars and rickshaws.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said, “A slow moving vehicle stopped at a red light. The vehicle exploded and the surrounding vehicles were also damaged due to the explosion.”
Pictures from the scene show broken windows, twisted metal and flames consuming vehicles. The blast left mutilated bodies and damaged cars scattered near the scene as police and investigators cordoned off the area and pushed back the growing crowd.
Om Prakash Gupta, who lives nearby, told The Associated Press that he heard the explosion in his home: “I came out with my children and saw that many vehicles were on fire, many body parts were burning.”
Officials said the injured are being treated at a nearby government hospital.
The cause of the explosion is not clear
The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The National Investigation Agency, India’s federal counter-terrorism agency, is leading the investigation along with forensic experts.
Home Minister Shah, who visited the spot, said “all aspects” were being investigated and security agencies would reach a conclusion soon. He said that footage from cameras of the area will be an important part of the investigation.
“We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation,” Shah said.
Major facilities have been placed on security alert
Authorities set up major railway stations across India, including Mumbai city and the northern state Uttar PradeshOfficials said that security is on alert after the explosion in the area bordering New Delhi.
The security force responsible for protecting key establishments in the capital, including New Delhi’s international airport, metro system and key government buildings, said its personnel have also been put on security alert.
The US Embassy in New Delhi has urged its citizens to avoid crowds near the Red Fort and be cautious in tourist areas.
Red Fort is a popular tourist destination
A former royal palace, the Red Fort is a massive Mughal-era complex and a major tourist attraction in the Old Delhi section of the city. Located about six kilometers (3.7 mi) from Parliament, the 17th-century monument is a symbolic place where the Indian Prime Minister delivers his annual Independence Day speech on 15 August.
The area around the Red Fort is usually crowded, being the main thoroughfare to the bustling markets of the old city.