Investigators Suspect Red Fort Blast Was Suicide Attack Using Ammonium Nitrate

New Delhi — Investigators probing the Red Fort car blast are increasingly suspecting that the explosion was a suicide attack, with preliminary evidence indicating the use of ammonium nitrate as the primary explosive.

According to officials, multiple agencies, including the Delhi Police, are coordinating with counterparts in Faridabad and Jammu and Kashmir to trace links between the Red Fort explosion and a recently dismantled terror module in Faridabad. That operation had led to the recovery of nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosives and several firearms.

While the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is yet to release its final report, early findings confirm traces of ammonium nitrate at the blast site. “Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide bombing,” an investigating officer said, adding that all possible angles are being examined.

Initial reports suggested that three people were inside the car at the time of the blast, but investigators now believe the prime suspect, Dr. Umar Mohammad, may have been alone. Officials are exploring whether Umar intended to target a major structure or detonate the vehicle amid peak traffic.

“There is a possibility that Umar triggered the blast in panic,” said another official, noting that the explosion might have been premature, possibly linked to the Faridabad module’s recent bust, which may have forced Umar to act hastily.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had earlier arrested two doctors — Muzammil Ahmad Ganai from Pulwama and Adeel Majeed Rather from Qazigund — as part of an interstate and transnational terror network connected to Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). These arrests were made in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks.

Investigators recovered 350 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate from Ganai’s residence in Faridabad. The FSL is now analyzing samples from the Red Fort site to determine whether a similar chemical composition — likely a mix of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators — was used in Monday’s explosion.

So far, no improvised explosive device (IED) fragments have been found at the scene, officials confirmed.

Extensive search operations are underway across Daryaganj, Paharganj, and adjoining areas, with investigators checking hotel visitors’ logs to identify possible accomplices. More than 200 officers have been assigned to scrutinize CCTV footage from Badarpur border to the Red Fort parking zone, tracking the vehicle’s movements.

Preliminary footage indicates the Haryana-registered car was parked outside Sunheri Masjid, near Gate No.1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, for nearly two hours before it exploded. The car is believed to have entered Delhi from Haryana via Badarpur.

The Delhi Police have registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Authorities said the FSL report, expected later on Tuesday, will be crucial in determining the exact nature of the explosives and confirming whether the Red Fort incident was indeed a suicide bombing.

With inputs from IANS