At least 12 people were killed and several injured in a car explosion on Monday at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi.
The exact cause of the blast is still being investigated. Here is what you need to know:
The car involved: Hyundai i20
The blast originated from a white Hyundai i20, bearing Haryana registration number HR 26CE 7674. CCTV footage indicates the car entered a parking lot near Sunehri Masjid at 3.19 pm, where it remained for more than three hours before leaving at 6.48 pm.
Just minutes after exiting, around 6.52 pm, the vehicle exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station, at a traffic signal crowded with vehicles and commuters.
The blast caused a chain reaction, igniting at least five other cars, several motorcycles, and e-rickshaws, leaving the area engulfed in flames and panic.
Eyewitnesses reported a deafening sound, shattered windows in surrounding buildings, and scenes of chaos as the carriageway was strewn with debris and bodies.
The suspects: A trail across states
According to the early investigations and CCTV footage, Dr Mohammad Umar, a suspected member of a Faridabad-based terror module, was the individual driving the i20.
After his fellow doctors who were allegedly part of the terror module were arrested, Umar Mohammad allegedly carried out this terror attack fearing that he too might be caught, news agency PTI reported.
Authorities are also tracing the ownership trail of the car, which passed through several hands, originally owned by Mohammad Salman of Gurugram, then sold to a series of buyers in Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, eventually reaching Umar via a man named Tariq from Pulwama.
Both Tariq and another recent owner, Aamir, have been detained for questioning, as police investigate possible links to a broader terror network extending beyond Delhi.
Aftermath and investigation
The attack has led to a massive multi-agency probe, with the Delhi Police, Special Cell, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and intelligence agencies combing the Red Fort area for clues and executing raids in Faridabad and Jammu.
Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act have been invoked, with murder and attempted murder charges added as the investigation widens.
Security has been ramped up across Delhi and critical points in north India, including railway stations, airports, and busy markets. High alerts have been issued in Jammu, Katra, and around the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
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