New Delhi: A powerful car explosion near Gate No. 1 of the historic Red Fort Metro Station in central Delhi on Monday evening has triggered a high alert across the national capital, with top counter-terrorism agencies taking over the probe. Initial reports confirmed at least eight fatalities and 19 injuries in the tragic incident.
The blast occurred around 6:55 pm, quickly engulfing and damaging multiple vehicles, including six cars, two e-rickshaws, a bus, and a tempo, according to the Fire Department. Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and the devastating intensity of the explosion, with some reporting the discovery of scattered human remains at the site, suggesting a high-velocity impact.
MHA Activates Top Security Protocols In immediate response to the tragedy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the Delhi Police Commissioner to review the situation. Security protocols were escalated with the immediate deployment of expert teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police to the blast site. The involvement of the NIA, India’s primary counter-terrorism agency, signals that the incident is being treated as a matter of national security and a potential act of terrorism.
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Focus on IED and Vehicle Tracing Forensic teams are currently scrutinizing the debris to confirm the nature of the explosion. Investigating agencies are focusing on the possibility of a high-intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) being detonated inside the parked vehicle. The extensive damage, where the car was reportedly “blown to pieces,” and collateral damage, like damaged street lights, strongly suggests a high-explosive detonation rather than an accidental gas or fuel explosion (according to explosive experts).
A critical part of the investigation is the reconstruction of the Vehicle-Borne IED (VBIED) wreckage. Agencies like the NIA are attempting to piece together fragments of the vehicle to trace its ownership and identify any local sleeper cells or modules involved in the procurement and assembly of the device.
Symbolic Target Raises Terror Link Concerns The location near the Red Fort a major symbol of Indian sovereignty and a high-profile target previously attacked by groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2000 has fueled the suspicion of a coordinated plot. Following the blast, the surrounding area, including the highly sensitive Chandni Chowk market, was immediately closed. Security deployment has been ramped up across all major markets and transit hubs as Delhi remains under high alert
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