NEW DELHI: The death toll from a car blast near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi has risen to 12. Over 30 people were injured, officials said. India’s anti-terrorism agency is leading investigations into the explosion, which struck the crowded Old Delhi area.
Police have not confirmed the exact cause of the blast, which occurred hours after authorities arrested a gang with explosives and assault rifles. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing links between the arrested men and the car explosion. Home Minister Amit Shah vowed to capture every culprit behind the attack.
Read more: Delhi on edge after car explosion near Red fort Metro station
Authorities suspect the suspects are linked with Jaish-i-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, groups listed as terrorist organizations in India. Investigators are also probing connections to a recent arrest of seven men, including two doctors, in occupied Kashmir. Authorities recovered firearms and 2,900 kilograms of bomb-making materials during the raids.
Indian police allege a “white-collar terror ecosystem” involving radicalized professionals and students operating with foreign handlers. Hundreds of locations in occupied Kashmir were raided, and around 500 people were briefly detained for questioning. The investigation is ongoing under India’s stringent anti-terror laws.
Read more: At least eight dead in explosion near Red Fort in New Delhi
Senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have pledged strict action against those responsible. The blast marks the first such attack in New Delhi since 2011 and comes amid heightened security concerns in the capital. Authorities have not yet made arrests in connection with the explosion.