Red Fort Blast Umar Nabi Used Ammonium Nitrate, Petroleum in Attack

New Delhi, Nov 15, 2025 – Investigations into the deadly car explosion near Red Fort in Delhi have revealed that Umar Nabi, the driver, used more than 2 kilograms of ammonium nitrate mixed with petroleum and detonating material, officials said on Saturday. The blast, which occurred on November 10, claimed 13 lives and injured over 20 people, leaving several vehicles damaged in the congested area.

Sources from the investigating agencies described Umar Nabi as an "expert" in bomb-making. Forensic teams have collected over 52 explosive samples from the blast site, confirming the ease with which such devices can be prepared in 5 to 10 minutes.

Investigators noted that Nabi entered a parking lot near the Red Fort at 3:19 pm and remained there for over three hours before the Hyundai i20 he was driving exploded at a traffic signal on Netaji Subhash Marg. The location runs along the Red Fort and the bustling Chandni Chowk area. Authorities suspect that Nabi had initially planned to detonate the bomb inside the Red Fort parking area but panicked after the arrest of his associates and the recovery of explosives in Faridabad.

Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor affiliated with Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad, reportedly missed the chance to execute his plan because Red Fort remains closed to the public on Mondays. Sources confirmed that Nabi panicked after his aides, Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Shaheen Saeed, were arrested in connection with a wider probe into a ‘white-collar’ terror module linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Earlier on the day of the blast, Jammu and Kashmir Police had announced that they had dismantled an inter-state and transnational terror module, seizing 2,900 kilograms of explosives and arresting seven individuals. Authorities are now probing the connections between the Red Fort attack and the dismantled terror network.

The Red Fort explosion has raised serious concerns about security in Delhi’s high-density areas, highlighting the use of sophisticated explosives by terror networks operating across state lines. Law enforcement officials are emphasizing tighter surveillance and the urgent need for coordination between intelligence agencies to prevent such attacks in the future.

As forensic investigations continue, officials are also focusing on the sources of the ammonium nitrate and petroleum used in the device, as well as uncovering potential international links to terror organizations. Public safety and crowd management remain top priorities, particularly in tourist-heavy areas like Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.

The incident underscores the evolving tactics of terror modules in India and the ongoing threat posed by transnational extremist networks. Authorities are calling for vigilance and community cooperation to prevent further tragedies.