The Delhi Police invoked the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the National Investigative Agency was involved with the investigation of the case. As per police reports, the blast is suspected to have been caused by ammonium nitrate-laden car, which triggered a fire that damaged multiple nearby vehicles. While preliminary police findings indicate that the blast may have been a possible suicide attack, the police have not officially confirmed whether the incident was a deliberate terrorist act.[2]
On the next day, the police raided another house and recovered approximately 2,563kg (5,650lb) of explosives, and other materials such as chemicals, reagents, inflammable material, and electronic circuits, used for making bombs. As per the police, the houses were rented by Mujammil Shakeel, a doctor from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.[3] The police arrested Muzammil Ahmad Ganai from Pulwama and Adeel Majeed Rather from Qazigund, both of whom were medical doctors and are alleged to be part of a militant cells linked to the Islamist militant groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[4]
While the doctor who rented the accommodations and the suspect from the perpetrated blasts worked at the same hospital in Faridabad,[5] the Delhi Police have not officially announced a link between the raids and the car explosion.[6]
Incident
At 6:52 pm IST on 10 November 2025, a car exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, India.[7][8]Union home ministerAmit Shah confirmed that the car used in the explosion was a Hyundaii20.[9][10] The car was parked near the Red Fort for more than three hours before it was driven, with CCTV footage later showing the car entering a parking area adjacent to the Sunehri Masjid at about 3:19 pm and remaining there until about 6:48 pm.[11][12]Satish Golcha, the commissioner of the Delhi police, later said that the car involved in the blast was not parked, and was in movement during the explosion. The vehicle had earlier stopped at a traffic light near Gate 1 of the Red Fort metro station before moving and exploding at approximately 6:52 pm. He also said that there were occupants inside the car at the time of the explosion.[13]
Aftermath
Police and eyewitnesses reported that the high intensity impact from the blast destroyed the primary car and set fire to nearly a dozen vehicles nearby. The sound of the explosion was heard several hundred meters away, and the windowpanes of nearby buildings shattered.[14] The Delhi Fire Service reported that they received multiple calls between 6:50 and 7:05 pm and immediately dispatched seven fire tenders to the spot. An official with the fire service later confirmed that the fire was brought under control by 7:29 pm.[1][14]
The blast killed at least 13 people and injured more than 20 others.[15][16] The injured were admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital.[17] The fire service stated that six cars, two e-rickshaws, and one auto rickshaw were incinerated in the explosion and the subsequent fire.[14]
Misinformation
After the blast, a still image showing a large fireball and mushroom cloud was circulated on social media and was claimed to be from the incident. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) revealed that the photo was actually from a 27 September 2024 air strike in Beirut, and clarified that the image circulated was false and misleading.[18] PIB also debunked several social media posts that falsely claimed that the blast was caused by a CNG explosion. It later clarified that these posts were fabricated and that no such statements have been made by the police.[19]
Investigation
After the explosion, the area was cordoned and forensic teams arrived to collect evidence from the site. The National Investigation Agency were tasked with the investigation.[1] The National Investigative Agency was involved with the investigation of the case.[17] Preliminary police findings indicated that the blast may have been a possible suicide attack.[20][21][22][23] CCTV footage indicated a masked man was seen driving the car before the explosion.[24] As per police reports, the blast is suspected to have been caused by ammonium nitrate, which triggered a fire that damaged the nearby vehicles.[17]
The Delhi police invoked the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and detained two men for questioning.[17][25][26] The investigators allegedly traced the ownership of the car to Umar Mohammed, a Pulwama-based doctor, who worked with the people who were found with explosives and weapons during the raid in Faridabad earlier.[25]
Reactions
Domestic
Following the incident, security levels were raised in Delhi and other major cities.[27] Major temples and important religious places were placed under high security.[28][29][30]Indian presidentDroupadi Murmu, who was on a official visit to Angola, spoke to the home minister and enquired about the details of the incident.[31]Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi said that he spoke with the home minister and inquired about the incident. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.[32][33] Modi, who was on an official visit to Bhutan,[34][35] later vowed for a strict action against the conspirators of the incident in a similar manner as he did so after Pahalgam terrorist attack.[36]
Home minister Amit Shah, who is the minister in charge for the law and order of Delhi, said that he is personally monitoring the situation, and spoke with the commissioner of Delhi Police and the director of the Intelligence Bureau. Later, he visited the blast site and the hospital where he met with the injured, before holding a brief review meeting with officials of the law enforcement agencies. He stated that "all possibilities" are being examined and a "thorough investigation" will be conducted.[37][38][39]
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, called the explosion "extremely heartbreaking and concerning".[40]Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal commented that the incident was "extremely alarming". He added that negligence regarding Delhi's security cannot be tolerated and that the government should immediately investigate how this explosion occurred and whether there is any major conspiracy behind it. Negligence regarding Delhi's security cannot be tolerated.[41][42]
International
Representatives of several countries and international organisations expressed their condolences and solidarity following the explosion. The ambassador to the European Union expressed grief on the incident and said that Europe stands by the people of India.[43] The US ambassdor said that the United States is closely monitoring the situation and advised its citizens in Delhi to avoid the affected area.[44] As per the Russian news agency TASS, the Russian Embassy was reported to be checking whether any of its nationals were impacted.[45]Argentina,[46]France,[47]Iran,[48]Japan,[49]Maldives,[50] and the United Kingdom offered messages of sympathy to the victims and support to India.[49]
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