First major blast in 14 years: Red Fort explosion revives horrors of Delhi's last terror attack in 2011

The blast, which ripped through a crowded area where litigants had gathered for entry passes, killed 15 people and injured more than 75 others. (AP)

A powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening has jolted the capital, marking the first major blast in 14 years since the 2011 Delhi High Court terror attack. The blast left at least eight people dead and 24 injured, according to officials cited by PTI.

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Eight dead, 24 injured in Red Fort blast

The explosion occurred around 7 pm near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Quila) Metro Station. Officials said the blast originated from a parked Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal, igniting several nearby vehicles and sending shockwaves through the crowded area.

“Three to four vehicles caught fire following the explosion. Seven fire tenders were deployed at the site to bring the blaze under control,” a Delhi Fire Department official told PTI.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said, “At around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged. All agencies, FSL and NIA, are here. The situation is being monitored.”

The injured were rushed to LNJP Hospital for treatment. The area has been cordoned off, and the capital has been placed on high alert.

Horrors of 2011 High Court attack

Monday’s explosion is the first major blast in Delhi since the September 7, 2011, terror attack outside the Delhi High Court. That blast killed 15 people and injured more than 75 others after a powerful bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded near Gate No. 5 of the court complex.

The Pakistan-based terror outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) had claimed responsibility for the attack, while subsequent investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) linked several suspects to terror networks operating out of Kashmir and Bangladesh.

The 2011 blast followed the 2005 serial bombings that killed over 60 people in crowded Delhi markets just ahead of Diwali, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the capital’s history.

Amit Shah orders multi-agency probe

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said multiple investigation teams had been deployed. “Within 10 minutes of receiving information about the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Special Branch arrived at the spot. The NSG and NIA, along with the FSL, have begun a thorough investigation. Orders have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras,” he said in an official statement.

The Home Ministry said it is in constant touch with Delhi Police and other agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also reviewed the situation and spoken with Shah for updates, according to government sources.

Security tightened amid terror probe

The Red Fort explosion comes just hours after Haryana Police, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police, arrested a Kashmiri doctor, Dr. Muzammil, from Faridabad. Officials recovered around 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, along with arms, ammunition, and timers, from his rented accommodation.

Investigators are examining whether the recovered explosives have any link to Monday’s blast in Delhi.

Teams from the NIA, National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Police Special Cell, and forensic experts remain at the site collecting evidence. Security has been stepped up across the capital, with checkpoints and surveillance intensified around high-footfall zones and metro stations.