At least 12 people were killed and about 30 injured in a car explosion near the Red Fort in Old Delhi on November 10. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the probe, and police have conducted raids and made arrests, but officials have not confirmed links between those detained and the blast. New Delhi says it will pursue justice while proceeding cautiously because of the diplomatic and security implications.
Delhi Car Blast: At Least 12 Dead — NIA Leads Investigation as Authorities Conduct Raids
India has pledged to bring to justice the perpetrators and their collaborators after a car explosion in Old Delhi on November 10 that hospital sources said killed at least 12 people and injured about 30. Officials have released few confirmed details, and investigators continue to probe whether the blast was a targeted attack or the result of other circumstances.
What happened?
The explosion occurred near a busy metro station close to the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi — the site where the prime minister delivers the annual Independence Day address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident a "conspiracy." Hospital officials told AFP the blast killed at least 12 people and wounded roughly 30, but many key facts remain unconfirmed.
Authorities have not publicly identified who was in the vehicle, what type of explosive (if any) was used, or whether the car's location was the intended target. It is also unclear whether the blast was carried out by a domestic group or involved foreign actors.
Investigation and arrests
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), India's primary counterterrorism agency, is leading the inquiry. Police have carried out widespread raids since the blast, including operations in Jammu and Kashmir, and have detained several suspects.
Separately, police announced arrests in an earlier operation in which they seized explosive materials and assault rifles. Authorities said those arrests involved suspects allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based group, and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, described as an offshoot active in parts of Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir police characterized that network as a "white-collar terror" group of radicalized professionals and students allegedly in contact with handlers abroad. Officials have not publicly confirmed a direct connection between those earlier arrests and the Delhi blast.
Among those detained after the Delhi explosion were several people reportedly connected with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, but investigators have not said whether they are linked to the blast.
Why authorities are proceeding cautiously
Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials have emphasized the need for a "swift and thorough inquiry" before assigning blame. Public expectations for a robust response are high, given earlier attacks this year and the sensitive diplomatic consequences of attributing responsibility to foreign actors.
India and Pakistan have a long-standing dispute over Kashmir, and recent cross-border tensions have previously led to military escalation. New Delhi's response options are shaped not only by security considerations but also by diplomatic and trade relationships with international partners.
What remains unclear
No official has confirmed: the identity of those in the car, the exact explosive used, whether the vehicle was deliberately targeted, or a definitive link between the Delhi blast and separate arrests made earlier the same day.
Next steps
The NIA and local police say they will continue forensic analysis, review CCTV and witness accounts, and carry out further searches and interviews. Authorities have urged the public to await official findings and avoid speculation while the investigation proceeds.
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