Delhi Blast Investigation Reveals Terrorist Assembled Explosives Near Red Fort Before Fatal Attack

In a significant development in the Delhi blast case, investigators have determined that Umar Mohammed, also known as Umar un-Nabi, who detonated the car bomb near the historic Red Fort, prepared the explosive device in a public parking area adjacent to the monument.

During the reconstruction of Umar's movements before the explosion, investigators focused on his activities during the three-hour period spent at the parking facility near Sunehri Masjid. Surveillance footage captured him entering the parking area at 3:19 pm and departing at 6:28 pm. The explosion occurred approximately at 6:52 pm.

The investigation indicated that throughout his time in the parking lot, Umar remained inside his vehicle continuously.

Sources reveal that the investigation has now established that Umar maintained communication with his handlers after arriving in Delhi that morning. Investigators believe these communications concerned selecting the target location. Umar drove through various areas including Mayur Vihar and Connaught Place before proceeding to Old Delhi. Ultimately, the parking area near Red Fort was selected, partially due to the landmark's symbolic importance.

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However, neither Umar nor his handlers had considered that the Red Fort would be closed to visitors on Monday. Consequently, the parking area was mostly vacant. This prompted them to abandon the initial plan for a parking lot explosion. Instead, Umar and his handlers decided to detonate the explosive on the bustling Netaji Subhash Marg, situated between the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.

According to investigators, Umar utilized the three-hour period in the parking lot to assemble the explosive device. Immediately upon completion, he exited the parking area and proceeded onto the road. Shortly thereafter, he triggered the explosion that resulted in 13 fatalities and injured 20 others.

Previous investigation findings revealed that Umar was alarmed following the arrest of his associates Muzammil and Shaheen—both medical professionals—in connection with the discovery of 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad. Fearing imminent apprehension by authorities, he hastily executed the bombing. The physician drove into the capital city with an explosive-laden vehicle as part of this hastily formulated plan.