NIA Arrests Key Co-Conspirator Behind Delhi Red Fort Suicide Bombing: Technical Support Provider Identified

Jasir Bilal Wani, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag, has been identified as an "active co-conspirator" of Delhi suicide bomber Umar un Nabi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has successfully apprehended Wani, with NDTV obtaining an exclusive photograph of the suspect who was arrested in Srinagar.

According to an official NIA statement released on Monday, Wani provided specialized technical support for potential terror operations, including modifying drones and attempting to develop rockets prior to the devastating explosion near Red Fort that claimed 15 lives last Monday.

The investigation revealed that Wani, who also uses the alias Danish, collaborated closely with Umar, who was operating the Hyundai i20 vehicle that exploded in proximity to the Red Fort Metro Station. The anti-terrorism agency emphasized that "the accused was an active co-conspirator behind the attack and had worked closely with the terrorist, Umar un Nabi, to plan the terror carnage."

In their official communication, the NIA explicitly identified Umar, who originated from Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama and was employed at Al-Falah University in Haryana's Faridabad, as a "suicide bomber" and characterized the explosive-laden vehicle as a "vehicle-borne IED."

The investigation continues to expand as "several teams of the anti-terror agency are pursuing multiple leads, and are conducting searches across states to identify every person involved in the terror attack," according to agency representatives.

In a related development, the NIA on Sunday apprehended Amir Rashid Ali, another associate of Umar, in Delhi. Ali, who hails from Samboora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pampore, "had conspired with the alleged suicide bomber to unleash the terror attack," the agency disclosed.

Investigators determined that "Amir had come to Delhi to facilitate the purchase of the car which was eventually used as a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to trigger the blast."

The NIA further detailed their collaborative efforts, stating they are "working in close coordination with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, UP Police and various sister agencies" as they continue their investigation across multiple states. The agency is "pursuing multiple leads to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the bombing and identify others involved in the case."

Intelligence sources have indicated that Umar maintained connections to a "white collar" terror network that was previously dismantled following the discovery of explosives, primarily in Faridabad, prior to the explosion in the national capital.