A car blast rocked Delhi on Monday night, hours after nearly 3,000 kg of explosives were recovered from a terror cell, sending the capital and several other states on high alert.
The explosion killed several people, injured many others, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause and nature of the blast.
As updates continue to roll in, here’s everything you need to know about the case for now.
When did the car explode?
The car explosion happened between 6.50pm and 7pm on Monday evening.
The explosion mainly affected the Hyundai i20, but the subsequent shock waves and fire left at least five to six vehicles damaged and/or gutted, including cars and re-rickshaws.
Where did the car explode?
The blast occurred near the historic Red Fort, specifically at the Subhash Marg traffic light near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) Metro Station.
How many people died in the car explosion?
At least eight people are confirmed dead in the car explosion.
Meanwhile, at least 18 people were injured in the car explosion, although some media outlets put the number between 19 and 24.
Authorities said all the injured were taken to hospitals.
Further details of the victims are awaited.
Read also | Inside the Delhi Blast Zone: How a crowded Red Fort intersection became the scene of a blast
What did the eyewitnesses say?
Eyewitnesses described scenes of carnage.
One recalled seeing body parts strewn around, while another described a huge fireball when the explosion hit.
Another witness said the sky turned red after the blast, while another said buildings in the area shook as if an earthquake had hit them.
What did the police say?
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha gave a detailed initial account of the incident.
“A slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light today at around 18:52. There was an explosion in this vehicle and the surrounding vehicles were also damaged due to the explosion. All the agencies, FSL, NIA are here… Some people died in the incident and some were injured. The situation is being monitored. The interior minister also called us and they communicate with him from time to time after the explosion,” he said.
Regarding the nature of the blast, a senior police official flagged the seemingly unusual findings.
“The explosion took place in a moving Hyundai i20 car in which three people were sitting. We found no bullets or punctures in the body of the injured person, which is unusual in a bomb blast. We are investigating all angles,” the official said.
What did the government say?
After the blast, Home Minister Amit Shah visited the blast site, took stock of the situation and also met the injured.
“The NSG and NIA teams along with the FSL have now started a thorough investigation. Orders have been issued to examine all nearby CCTV cameras. I have also spoken to the Delhi CP and the special branch in charge… Early tomorrow morning, the home ministry will meet senior investigation officials to probe the incident further,” Shah promised.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in turn, was briefed by Shah and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed his condolences to the affected families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Was it a terrorist attack?
It is not clear at this time whether the car explosion was a terrorist attack, but this possibility has not been ruled out, especially given that a terrorist module with almost 3,000 kg of explosives was broken a few hours before the incident.
“We are looking into all options and will conduct a thorough investigation considering all options. All options will be investigated immediately and the results will be presented to the public,” Union Home Minister Shah said at the time.
Asked later if the blast was a terrorist attack, Shah told PTI: “It is difficult to say what caused the incident. Till the samples obtained from the blast site are analyzed by forensic authorities and NSG, we cannot say anything. But we are not ruling anything out and are investigating the matter from all angles.”
Read also | Delhi blast kills 8 near Red Fort — Police reveal how events unfolded
Has anyone been detained?
Yes, at least one person has been arrested so far: the original owner of the car.
The original owner is said to have sold the car to a person in Okhla, but confirmation on these details is awaited.
Separately, authorities are questioning at least eight persons who were arrested on Monday in connection with a terror cell allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
The arrest took place hours before the blast and also led to the recovery of 2,900 kg of explosives along with weapons and ammunition.
What is the status of the car explosion investigation?
The blast case is being jointly investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Delhi Police Special Cell.
A case has been registered under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosives Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.
Currently, FSL has collected evidence from the blast site and a forensic report is awaited on the nature of the blast.
As the probe continues, FSL told ANI that the samples will be taken to the lab and the nature of the blast will be known after investigation.
“…The samples will be taken to the lab and then only we can confirm…Everything will be known after the examination…,” FSL officer Mohamad Wahid told reporters.
Are schools closed on Tuesday?
At the time of writing, no official order has been issued regarding school closures on Tuesday, November 11.
However, security has been tightened throughout the state capital.
