Delhi Red Fort Suicide Bomber's Radical Videos Reveal Extensive Recruitment and Radicalization Efforts

The suicide bomber's videos focused on propagating extremist ideology.

New Delhi:

Dr Umar Mohammad, also known as Umar-un-Nabi, the individual responsible for the explosion near Delhi's Red Fort that claimed 15 lives, had created numerous radical videos over recent months to influence and recruit followers, according to sources. Security agencies have discovered 12 such videos on the suicide bomber's mobile device.

The videos created by the suicide bomber centered on advancing extremist ideology. Several focused on themes such as "If a small group of Afghan Mujahideen and Taliban can defeat and overthrow global superpowers like Russia and America, you can too". He frequently discussed Islamic dominance over other religions, sources indicated. In one particular recording, Umar stated, "Right now you might be lying low, but if you have faith in Allah and yourself, you can defeat India".

Umar - who was enlisted into the sophisticated terror network by other suspects at Al-Falah University in Haryana - distributed additional videos by radical Islamists to individuals he communicated with through encrypted applications.

Umar had also shared these videos with Jasir Bilal, an "active co-conspirator" in the Delhi explosion. Communications revealed that Bilal initially hesitated to participate in the attack; however, the videos appeared to indoctrinate him, sources mentioned.

According to sources, Umar conducted online sessions about suicide bombing to motivate members of his group. It is believed that Umar's video that emerged earlier this week, glorifying suicide bombings, may be part of these online sessions where he responds to a question from one of the participants.

A disturbing video showed Umar, seated inside a residence wearing a grey t-shirt, describing suicide bombing as a "misunderstood concept". Speaking fluent English with an accent, he stated, "One of the very misunderstood concepts is the concept of what has been labelled as suicide bombing. It is a martyrdom operation... known in Islam. Now, there are multiple contradictions; there are multiple arguments that have been brought against it."

Justifying the atrocious act, the bomber further explained that a "martyrdom" operation involves a person anticipating death at a specific location and time. Umar can also be heard claiming that no one can accurately predict when or where they will die, and that it will occur if it is predetermined.

"Don't fear death," he declared.

As the footage spread across social media, it was removed from all Meta platforms for violating their terms and regulations, according to the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg.

A white Hyundai i20 exploded near the Red Fort last week, with DNA analysis confirming Umar as the suicide bomber.

The incident occurred on the same day that 2,900 kg of explosives were discovered just 50 km from the capital, in neighboring Haryana's Faridabad. Sources suggest that Umar likely became alarmed and triggered the explosion after investigators apprehended two key members of the network, Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Adil Rather - both Kashmir residents - and seized the explosives.