Less than 24 hours after the deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, forensic experts have started to give out preliminary information. The area has been cordoned off since the incident on November 10, and is since being combed by investigators.
Here is what they have found. The explosion occurred at 6:52 PM in a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort on November 10 and killed at least 8 people. The impact tore through at least 5 surrounding vehicles and rickshaws. Reports say bodies were found as far as 25 metres away from the point of explosion.
Despite the powerful boom, no crater, shrapnel or wires were found at the scene. All of these are common in standard explosive devices.
NDTV reported that an unspecified amount of ammonium nitrate fuel oil combined with a manually controlled detonator was used. But there is no official confirmation yet.
As preliminary information about the blast starts to flow in, Red Fort blast is now treated under stringent anti-terror law. Sections of the UAPA and Explosive Substances Act have been invoked along with charges of murder and attempted murder.
Police in Delhi and beyond have been carrying out raids to find any possible clue that may reveal more about the explosion that killed at least 8 people. And looks like they have a hit.
Unnamed senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Police told Indian Express they suspect Umar Nabi to be behind the blast. It is said that Nabi was an associate of Dr Mujammil Ahmad Ganai and Dr Adeel Majeed Rather, both of whom were nabbed with 358 kgs of explosives just a day before. Nabi is suspected to be the third operator who went missing after the arrest in Faridabad.
PM Modi on Red Fort blast
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called the Red Fort explosion in the heart of the capital a "conspiracy", vowing those responsible will face justice.
Police are yet to give exact details of what caused Monday's blast near the historic Red Fort, one of India's most well-known landmarks, and the site of the annual prime minister's Independence Day speech.
It is the first significant security incident since April 22, when 26 mainly Hindu civilians were killed at the tourist site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, triggering clashes with Pakistan.
"I assure everyone that the agencies will get to the bottom of the entire conspiracy," Modi said, in a speech during a state visit to neighbouring Bhutan, without giving further details.
"All those involved will be brought to justice."
At least 19 people were also wounded when flames ripped through several vehicles. Crime scene investigators scoured through the wreckage early on Tuesday.
