The death toll from the car blast near Delhi's Red Fort has risen to 13 after a 35-year-old man succumbed to his injuries while on a ventilator. Bilal Hasan, who was receiving treatment at LNJP Hospital, passed away on Thursday, authorities confirmed. Hasan suffered extensive shrapnel wounds to his lungs and intestines.
The explosion, which occurred on Monday evening near the Red Fort Metro Station, involved a slow-moving Hyundai i20 that went up in flames. Over 20 people were injured in addition to the fatalities. The incident site was near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the investigation into the blast. Investigators are exploring potential links between the incident and previously arrested individuals. Earlier, police in Jammu and Kashmir had arrested seven men, including two doctors, in connection with a separate anti-terror probe. During the raids, authorities seized two pistols, two assault rifles, and a substantial quantity of bomb-making material.
DNA tests have confirmed that Dr. Umar Nabi, an assistant professor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, was driving the car. Investigators suspect that Dr. Nabi detonated the explosives in panic after learning about the arrests of his associates from a Faridabad-based terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Two of Dr. Nabi's associates, Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Shaheen, who also worked at Al-Falah University, are suspected to be members of the same terror network.
The NIA has uncovered connections between the accused doctor and a handler based in Turkey, known as "Ukasa". The accused doctor is believed to have motivated other doctors to participate in the blast plot.
In the aftermath of the blast, a severed forearm was discovered on the roof of a store in New Lajpat Rai Market, approximately 300 meters from the blast site. The recovered limb has been sent for forensic examination as the search for missing victims continues.
Forensic teams have determined that high-grade explosives were used in the blast, with one sample being more potent than ammonium nitrate. Over 40 samples, including live ammunition, cartridges, and explosive residue, were collected from the scene by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Post-mortem examinations revealed that victims suffered severe internal injuries, including ruptured lungs, torn eardrums, intestinal damage, and multiple fractures, consistent with a high-intensity explosion. Excessive bleeding and blunt-force trauma from the explosion's shockwave caused several deaths.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has issued a show-cause notice to Al-Falah University for displaying false accreditation information on its website. The university has been directed to remove the NAAC accreditation details from its website and other publicly available documents.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reported that 17 individuals have been arrested across the state for allegedly supporting the terror attack on social media.
