Delhi Terror Attack: JeM-Linked Suspect Used ANFO Car Bomb Near Historic Red Fort

Delhi police sources indicated that Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) was utilized in executing the terror blast near the Red Fort.

Umar Mohammad, the primary suspect in the Delhi explosion that claimed at least nine lives and injured approximately 20 others, has been connected to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), according to Delhi police sources. Investigators revealed that Umar Mohammad was affiliated with the recently discovered JeM terror module in Haryana's Faridabad and detonated the explosive device after several of his associates were apprehended on Sunday.

The detonation occurred late Monday in proximity to the historic Red Fort, prompting authorities to register a case under anti-terrorism legislation. The vicinity around the Red Fort, encompassing the vibrant Chandni Chowk marketplace and the historic Jama Masjid, represents one of Delhi's most densely populated and frequented areas.

Sources confirmed that a collaborative investigation involving Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and additional agencies is currently exploring the possibility that the incident was a suicide attack.

"Umar Muhammad, who works as a doctor, fled from Faridabad upon learning about the arrests of his fellow Jaish Module members. In a state of panic, he initiated the explosion," sources explained.

Delhi police sources revealed that Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) was employed to execute the terrorist bombing near the Red Fort in New Delhi. ANFO, a widely used industrial explosive created by combining porous ammonium nitrate with fuel oil, has previously been deployed in devastating terrorist incidents in Beirut and the United States.

The explosion in Delhi occurred shortly after authorities recovered a substantial quantity of ammonium nitrate from nearby Faridabad, triggering nationwide security concerns.

According to Delhi police sources, the suspect, Umar Mohammad, who owned the Hyundai i20 vehicle used in the attack, detonated the explosive near the Red Fort following the arrest of two key Jaish module operatives - Dr. Mujammil Shakeel and Dr. Adil Rather - and the seizure of approximately 2,900 kg of suspected explosives in Haryana's Faridabad during recent days.

Ammonium nitrate is characterized as an odorless, white crystalline substance that functions as a powerful oxidizer and, under specific conditions, can produce a massive explosion involving the rapid decomposition of the chemical compound into a large volume of hot gases.

Investigators believe the suspect combined ammonium nitrate with fuel oil and an explosive detonator to manufacture the "car bomb".

The decomposition reaction from an ammonium nitrate bomb generates an exothermic process, releasing nitrous oxide and water vapor that rapidly expand (up to 1,000 times their initial volume). This creates a supersonic shockwave causing extensive structural damage in surrounding areas. The detonation also discharges harmful and toxic gases, including nitrogen oxides (notably a distinctive red-orange plume of nitrogen dioxide) and ammonia, posing significant health risks to individuals in the vicinity.

The reaction additionally produces considerable heat, with temperatures in the immediate area reaching approximately 2,000 degrees Celsius.