India: Evidence in Red Fort Blast Points to Islamic Jihad Terror Network Behind Deadly Attack

A deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, 2025, underscores the fact that Islamic terrorism might have paused for a while, but has certainly not left the soil of India. The blast killed at least twelve people and injured twenty, including two women; the numbers continue to rise as victims succumb to their injuries. The deafening blast occurred at around 6:52 pm near the Sunehri Masjid parking area, triggering a massive fire that engulfed nearby vehicles and shattered windows in the crowded Mughal-era quarter. Emergency services were rushed to the scene, firefighters battled flames, and rescue teams transported the wounded to hospitals across the capital.

Investigators have confirmed that the car, a white Hyundai i20 bearing Haryana registration HR26CE7674, had been parked near the mosque for nearly three hours before the blast. CCTV footage shows a masked man driving the vehicle into the area and walking away minutes before the explosion. This footage has now become a central lead in tracing the car’s movement and identifying those involved.

Police sources revealed that the vehicle’s ownership trail led investigators to Jammu and Kashmir. The car was initially registered to a man named Mohd Salman, who has since been detained in Gurugram. He reportedly sold the vehicle to one Tariq, a resident of Pulwama in south Kashmir, whose role in the incident is under investigation. Agencies are probing whether Tariq acted alone or was part of a wider network responsible for moving the car into Delhi. The car dealer who facilitated the sale has also been taken into custody for interrogation.

Dr. Mohammad Umar, also known as Umar Mohammad, a doctor from Pulwama who had earlier been linked to a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-backed jihad terror module busted in Faridabad, has also been named as a possible occupant of the vehicle at the time of the explosion, which would make him a suicide bomber. Authorities have detained his mother and two brothers in Pulwama and initiated DNA-matching procedures to confirm whether human remains recovered at the blast site belong to him.

Investigators are examining whether the Red Fort blast may be connected to the previously uncovered network of “white-collar terrorists,” which included medical professionals allegedly supplying explosives and arms to the banned outfit. That earlier case had seen the arrest of two doctors from Jammu and Kashmir, identified as Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather, detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, and Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, arrested from a rented apartment in Faridabad. Police accused the two of procuring explosives and recruiting others for Jaish-e-Mohammed operations in north India.

Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, a female medical professional affiliated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, has been detained for questioning in connection with the Red Fort blast. She is reported to have been tasked with setting up a women’s recruitment wing for the terror group Jaish‑e‑Mohammed. Investigators have noted that both Dr. Umar and Dr. Shaheen were employed at Al-Falah University, highlighting their link within the same terror‑probe network.

Investigators are now probing whether the Red Fort blast marks an operational continuation of the same network, which had allegedly been planning attacks using professional contacts as cover. Security agencies are reportedly cross-checking communications, fund trails, and travel histories of several individuals connected to the Pulwama module to determine if they coordinated the Red Fort attack.

Authorities swiftly treated the incident as a suspected terror attack. Bomb squads and forensic experts combed through the wreckage, while anti-terror provisions were invoked to enable a full-scale investigation. The Delhi Police Special Cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have since taken charge of the probe. Forensic officers sealed off the area to examine the blast residue, vehicle fragments, and CCTV footage to determine the nature of the explosion. Preliminary assessments suggest a high-intensity explosive device or an incendiary charge was used, though the final forensic report is awaited.

Security measures across Delhi and adjoining states were immediately tightened following the explosion. High alert has been declared around airports, railway stations, markets, and government buildings in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Officials have stated that the motive behind the blast remains under investigation, though the possibility of a larger terror conspiracy is being actively examined. Forensic experts continue to analyze debris to determine the explosive compound used, while digital forensics teams are tracing phone and GPS data from the car’s movements.

With multiple arrests already made and new names and perpetrators emerging, the common pattern in the identity of the detainees and suspects has reignited concerns over the resurgence of organized Islamic terror modules in urban centers. The investigation remains ongoing, with agencies pursuing leads in Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, as the capital stays on high alert.