Delhi Blast Investigation Reveals Six-Phase Jaish-e-Mohammed Attack Plan

The investigation into the Red Fort blast has revealed a meticulously planned six-phase terror attack targeting six locations in Delhi on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. Officials confirm that the Hyundai i20, which exploded Monday evening, was part of a larger serial attack orchestrated by a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror cell.

Authorities have disclosed that 32 vehicles—including a Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Maruti Swift Dzire, Ford EcoSport, and Hyundai i20—were being prepared to transport explosives or deliver bombs across Delhi. Four of these cars, identified so far, were chosen for their age and multiple ownership transfers, making them difficult to trace.

The Brezza was recovered from the campus of Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Faridabad, which has emerged as a central hub for the terror cell’s operations. The Ford EcoSport, registration DL10 CK 0458, was abandoned in Faridabad with a young male suspect in custody. The Dzire, also seized, contained an assault rifle and ammunition.

The Red Fort blast killed 13 people and involved explosives including ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO). Preliminary findings suggest that the blast was triggered prematurely by Umar Mohammed, the primary suspect, after his accomplices—Adil Ahmad Rather, Mujammil Shakeel, and Shahina Saeed—were arrested, and nearly 3,000 kg of explosives and firearms were recovered from Faridabad and Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag.

Investigators said Umar Mohammed drove the Hyundai i20 into Delhi via the Badarpur border and planned to detonate it inside the Red Fort parking lot. Since the fort was closed to visitors on Monday, he improvised and set off the bomb at a busy traffic intersection near the metro station. Authorities also revealed there were discussions of a Diwali attack on October 20, which did not materialize.

The investigation, led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), uncovered a sophisticated new modus operandi—terrorists posing as white-collar professionals, including doctors, to gain local trust and avoid suspicion. CCTV footage exposed the plot when Rather was seen putting up posters praising Jaish-e-Mohammed in Nowgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Rather was later arrested in Saharanpur, unraveling the terror cell’s operations.

Several members of the terror cell were affiliated with Al-Falah University. The institution has strongly condemned their actions and emphasized that it had no connection to the suspects beyond their professional association, reaffirming its commitment to national security.

This investigation highlights the evolving tactics of terror groups, the threat of urban serial attacks, and the critical role of intelligence and law enforcement in preventing large-scale terrorist operations.