The Indian authorities are investigating whether this week’s deadly car explosion in New Delhi is linked to the recent arrest of seven men from the Kashmir region found with weapons and bomb-making materials, according to three sources familiar with the probe.
The blast on Monday evening near the historic Red Fort — one of the capital’s most visited landmarks — killed at least eight people and injured more than 20 others, marking the deadliest attack in Delhi since 2011.
The explosion occurred near a subway station during the evening rush hour, jolting the normally secure city of more than 30 million residents, according to Indian news reports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that those responsible “will not be spared,” calling the attack a grave assault on India’s security.
Speaking from Bhutan, where he is on an official visit, Modi said he has been closely monitoring the investigation led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which handles terrorism-related cases.
If confirmed as a deliberate act, the attack would shatter years of relative calm in India’s capital — where such large-scale blasts have been rare outside of Kashmir.
Hours before the explosion, police in Indian-administered Kashmir carried out raids in parts of the National Capital Territory, and seized nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosive materials, along with circuits, remote controls, and chemicals used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Several arrests were made, including two Kashmiri doctors, while another suspect, Dr. Umar Nabi, allegedly escaped. Investigators are now waiting for DNA results to confirm whether Nabi was driving the vehicle that exploded outside the Red Fort.
