The man who drove the car that exploded near the Red Fort, killing at least nine people, also allegedly had links to the Faridabad terror cell where a huge cache of explosive material was seized, Delhi Police sources were quoted as saying by news agency PTI on Tuesday.
According to sources, Umar Mohammad, a resident of Pulwama and a doctor, was allegedly driving the Hyundai i20 car that was used in the blast near the Red Fort Metro station parking lot.
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Preliminary police findings suggest that ammonium nitrate, fuel oil and detonators may have been used in the blast near Red Fort that killed at least nine people, police sources said.
A police source said initial findings indicated a possible link between the Delhi blast and 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 showed a “masked man” was driving the car. Several teams have been deployed to scan CCTV from around the Red Fort and adjoining routes, they added.
Delhi Police remain on high alert after a powerful blast tore through a slow-moving car at a traffic light near Red Fort Metro station on Monday night, killing at least nine people, injuring 20 and leaving several vehicles gutted.
Hours before the blast in Delhi, eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives were seized in Monday’s bust of a white-collar terror module.
The 2,900 kg of explosive material recovered in Faridabad includes ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur. From this, according to the police, 360 kg of flammable material, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, and some weapons and ammunition were found.
Police sources claimed that Umar Mohammad was another doctor in the Faridabad module who had already been arrested.
Umar Mohammad, who is a doctor by profession, was allegedly associated with the terror module Jaish-e-Mohammad, they said.
According to sources, a man named Tariq from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who was arrested, allegedly handed over 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 might also be caught, the sources added.
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Following the blast, security has been beefed up across the national capital and vehicle checks at all border crossings have also been intensified.
All vehicles entering Delhi, whether private or commercial, are thoroughly inspected and verified as part of heightened security measures, officials said.
“Several teams have been deployed to scan CCTV footage from around Red Fort and adjoining routes to know more about the masked man who was driving the Hyundai i20 car in which the explosion took place,” a police source said.
“We also learned that the vehicle was parked in a nearby parking lot for three hours before the explosion. Footage from various parking lots is also being monitored,” the source added.
He added that a night search operation was conducted in hotels and guest houses in Daryaganj and Paharganj areas to trace possible suspects.
Police checked hotel registers, checked records and interviewed several employees to identify someone matching the suspect’s description.
All police stations in the state capital have been asked to remain alert and maintain strict vigilance at local markets, metro stations, bus and railway stations.
“Teams have been asked to remain alert, attend all emergency calls, intensify checks in their area and report any suspicious activity immediately,” said a police officer.
The police have registered an FIR in the matter and several teams from the Special Cell, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the local police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast. They are also investigating whether it could be a case of a “suicide bombing” or a larger terrorist plot, the source said.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the explosion occurred around 6:52 pm in a slow-moving Hyundai i20 at a traffic light near Red Fort Metro station.
“There were passengers in the vehicle. Other vehicles in the vicinity were also affected. Teams of Delhi Police, FSL, NIA and NSG have inspected the scene and are analyzing 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 the glass panels of a subway station. According to the Delhi Fire Services, ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was brought under control at 7.29 pm.
“All senior officers are also finding that the blast was linked to the Faridabad terror network,” another source said.
Videos shared by local traders showed the extent of the blast – crushed bodies, damaged vehicles and scattered debris near the blast site.
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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 explosion was so powerful that it gutted several vehicles and shattered window panes of nearby cars, buildings and the glass panels of a subway station.
The deceased include Ashok Kumar (34) from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and Amar Kataria (35) from Delhi, while the others remain unidentified and are aged between 28 and 58. One mutilated body was recovered from the wreckage of the car, officials said.
