Suicide Bomber Remained in Parked Car for 3 Hours Before Deadly Delhi Red Fort Blast

The Hyundai i20 car, bearing registration number HR 26CE7674, entered the parking lot at 3:19 pm.

New Delhi:

Sources reveal that Dr Umar Mohammad, the suspected suicide bomber in the deadly blast near Delhi's Red Fort area that claimed nine lives, remained inside his car for over three hours at a parking lot near the historic monument.

According to investigative sources, he never exited the vehicle during the entire time it was parked. Authorities believe the suspected bomber was either waiting for someone's arrival or anticipating instructions while in the parking lot.

The Hyundai i20 car with license plate HR 26CE7674 entered the parking facility at 3:19 pm and departed approximately at 6:30 pm.

CCTV footage has emerged showing the vehicle crossing the Badarpur border, with police currently investigating the complete route taken, sources confirmed.

One captured image shows the car entering the parking area with the suspected bomber's hand visible through the window. Another photograph appears to show him wearing a blue and black t-shirt.

Delhi Police sources state that the i20's original owner, Mohd Salman - who has been arrested - sold the vehicle to an individual named Devender in March. Devender subsequently sold it to a man called Aamir, who transferred ownership to Tariq, a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. Tariq then sold the car to Umar.

Both Aamir and Tariq are currently undergoing interrogation.

The explosion occurred at 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and damaged vehicles scattered throughout the busy area. Disturbing footage showed bodies on the ground and severed body parts. Shortly after the blast, security personnel flooded the area, and ambulances transported numerous injured individuals to the nearby Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP).

The incident happened on the same day authorities discovered a massive cache of 2,900 kg of explosives just 50 kilometers from the capital in neighboring Haryana's Faridabad. Sources indicated that Dr Umar Mohammad, the car owner, reportedly panicked and triggered the explosion near Red Fort after investigators arrested two key members of the network - Dr Mujammil Shakeel and Dr Adil Rather - and seized the explosives.

According to sources, he planned the attack alongside two additional associates and installed a detonator in the vehicle.

Sources further confirmed that ammonium nitrate, the same substance discovered in Faridabad, was utilized in the blast.