Red Fort Blast: Suspect Doctor linked to Faridabad Terror module identified as Mohammad Umar

New Delhi – Delhi witnessed another chilling reminder of terror on Monday evening when a white Hyundai i20 exploded near the Red Fort. The blast killed nine people and injured twenty others. Fresh CCTV footage has now revealed the suspect driving the vehicle moments before the explosion.

Investigators identified the driver as Mohammad Umar, a suspected terrorist from the Faridabad terror module. Sources said Umar worked as a doctor at Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad. Authorities believe he planned the attack with two accomplices.

Umar is reportedly close to Adeel Ahmad Rather, a former senior resident doctor at Government Medical College, Anantnag. Police had arrested Rather last week. His interrogation led officers to Faridabad, where they raided Umar’s residence hours before the blast.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained Umar’s mother, Shaheema Bano, and his brothers, Aashiq and Zahroor, for questioning. Investigators suspect Umar acted in panic after learning about the earlier arrests.

Officials confirmed that Umar and his associates used Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil to trigger a high-intensity explosion. The blast occurred around 6:52 pm, during the busy evening hours when the Red Fort area was filled with tourists.

According to CCTV footage, the car entered the Sunehri Masjid parking lot at 3:19 pm and left around 6:48 pm. The explosion followed just minutes later near Chhata Rail Chowk on Netaji Subhash Marg.

The footage shows Umar clearly behind the wheel. As the car moves forward, another masked man appears beside him. Investigators believe Umar was alone when the vehicle exited the parking lot. They are now tracing the route toward Daryaganj and reviewing over 100 CCTV clips, including footage from toll plazas, to establish the vehicle’s full journey.

Police found that the Hyundai i20 entered Delhi through the Badarpur border earlier that day. The rest of its route remains under scrutiny. So far, Delhi Police have detained 13 suspects connected to the case.

Car Ownership Trail

Intelligence sources revealed that the vehicle originally belonged to Mohammad Salman, who was arrested on Monday night. Salman sold it to Nadeem, who later handed it over to a used car dealer named Royal Car Zone in Faridabad’s Sector 37. Attempts to contact the dealership failed as all phone numbers were switched off.

Later, a man named Aamir bought the car and sold it to Tariq, a suspected member of the same Faridabad terror module. Finally, the car reached Mohammad Umar. Police believe Umar panicked after the arrest of Dr. Muzamil Shakeel, from whom officers had seized 2,900 kg of IED-making material.

Investigators said the same Hyundai i20 had been fined for wrong parking in Faridabad on September 20. The registration certificate still lists Salman as the official owner. Authorities are now tracing whether Tariq sold the car again before the blast.

Explosive Material and Ongoing Raids

The Delhi Police Special Cell has sought detailed information from the Faridabad Crime Branch and Jammu & Kashmir Police about the recovered explosives. Early findings suggest the presence of ammonium nitrate, but forensic confirmation is awaited.

Officials suspect that Muzamil received support from a sleeper cell in Faridabad that helped him stockpile explosives. Multiple agencies are now questioning Muzamil, Tariq, and Aamir to uncover the wider network. Based on new leads, another raid is planned in Faridabad today.

Identification of Victims

Authorities recovered nine bodies from the blast site but identified only two so far. The rest remain unidentified due to severe burns and missing body parts. Forensic teams will conduct DNA tests to determine their identities.

Delhi Police have registered an FIR under Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, along with charges of murder and attempt to murder.

Scene of Destruction

Witnesses said the explosion was deafening. Many lost their hearing for minutes. The blast shattered windows of cars parked nearby and broke glass panels of the Red Fort Metro Station. The shockwave reached ITO, nearly 2 km away.

Police sealed the entire area and diverted traffic through Jama Masjid and Daryaganj. The Chandni Chowk market will remain closed today as a precaution.

Following the blast, Delhi went on high alert. Security has tightened at all border points, metro stations, and government complexes. Senior officers from multiple agencies continue to coordinate the ongoing investigation.

Delhi, once again, faces fear and uncertainty as investigators race to uncover the full extent of the Red Fort terror plot.