Was the Red Fort blast really a planned attack? Turns out, maybe not. Early investigations reportedly suggest that the suspect might have panicked and accidentally triggered the explosion.
An NDTV report, citing intelligence sources, claimed that the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosive chemicals from Faridabad might have forced the terror module to relocate.
Modus operandi unusual
Agencies point out that the prime suspect, Umar Nabi, who was driving the explosive-laden car, did not follow the usual modus operandi of a suicide bombing.
Instead of ramming the car into a target, the blast took off at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station.
Intelligence sources also told NDTV that the explosive was assembled hastily. The explosion neither created a crater, nor was any shrapnel recovered from the site.
New agency, PTI reported, quoting sources, "The suspect was likely spooked after the raid in Faridabad which forced him to relocate hastily, increasing the chance of a mishap. The incident appears to have shifted from a suspected suicide attack to an unintended explosion during transport."
Technical glitch caused limited impact
Investigators suspect a technical mistake that limited the impact of the improvised explosives.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory has collected 40 samples from the blast site, which include mangled remains of the vehicle and human body parts, and these will be analysed for chemical traces. The laboratory has constituted a special team for analysis of samples,
They believe that the explosion might have happened when the suspects tried to relocate or get rid of the explosives.
The Monday bombing killed 13 people and left at least 20 injured. So far, eight people have been arrested, and 20 others are being questioned in the Kashmir Valley in connection with the Faridabad terror module.
