Breaking Alert: Delhi Metro station temporarily closed after car blast near Red Fort, 9 dead and 20 injured – was it just an accident or part of a bigger terrorist conspiracy? Investigation by security agencies continues.
New Delhi. A massive car blast took place in a white Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort at around 6:52 pm on Monday evening. 9 people died and 20 were injured in this deadly blast. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily closed the Red Fort metro station immediately after the blast, while the rest of the Delhi Metro stations remained operational. The car used in the blast was a white Hyundai i20, and initial investigation revealed that it used dangerous technology such as fuel oil, ammonium nitrate and detonators.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was so strong that several vehicles parked at the Subhash Marg intersection caught fire. On the spot, the police and fire service team immediately took the injured to LNJP Hospital. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the blast took place in a slow moving car, which was stopped at the traffic signal of the Red Fort. Teams of Delhi Crime Branch, Special Branch, NSG and NIA are involved in the investigation of the blast. CCTV footage and forensic investigation is ongoing.
How did the explosion happen?
At around 6:52 pm, a car parked at a traffic signal near the Red Fort suddenly exploded. Eyewitnesses said that the explosion was so powerful that several vehicles caught fire at the intersection of Subhash Marg. Fire service personnel reached the spot and immediately started relief and rescue operations. The injured were admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP).
What is the progress of the blast investigation so far?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the blast took place in a slow moving car. Teams of Delhi Crime Branch, Special Branch, NSG and NIA are investigating from all angles. Forensic investigation of surrounding CCTV footage and car debris is ongoing. Based on initial evidence and intelligence reports, Delhi Police has invoked UAPA due to possible terrorist connections.
Security system and high alert
After the blast, high alert was issued in many states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Bihar. Surveillance was increased in big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Jaipur. CISF has tightened security at major places in Delhi-NCR, Red Fort, IGI Airport and government offices. Chandni Chowk market was also kept temporarily closed as a precaution.
Is the blast part of a bigger conspiracy?
The Delhi blast happened on the same day when police in Faridabad, Haryana, recovered a huge cache of 2,900 kg of explosives just 50 km away. This raises the question whether this blast was part of a larger terrorist conspiracy? The investigating agencies are trying to get to the bottom of the matter by keeping all possible angles in mind.