Indian authorities have opened a wide-ranging investigation into the explosion that killed eight people outside Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, as police and national security agencies work to determine what triggered the deadly incident. The blast, already reported yesterday, has now prompted an intensive review of surveillance footage, vehicle records, and forensic evidence, with several arrests made in the early stages of the inquiry.

Officials said the explosion occurred after a “slow-moving vehicle” halted at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station, an area congested with evening commuters, marketgoers, and dense traffic. The fireball engulfed nearby vehicles and sent debris across the road, injuring about 20 people and damaging a Sikh house of worship nearly 500 meters away.

देश सुरक्षित हाथों में लेकिन अपनी राजधानी ही सुरक्षित नहीं है!

प्रधानमंत्री इसी जगह से भाषण देते है प्रधानमंत्री जी गृहमंत्री से इस्तीफा लेंगे?#Redfort pic.twitter.com/xH0W6Ldg0y

— Puneet Kumar Singh (@puneetsinghlive) November 10, 2025

Witnesses described horrifying scenes as flames spread through cars and auto-rickshaws. “I saw the car explode while it was moving,” said Dharmindra Dhaga, 27, according to AFP. “People were on fire and we tried to save them... Cars and people were burning – people inside the cars were burning.” Another local resident, Jai, 49, recounted: “I heard a noise so loud my ears got blocked. Then I saw car parts flying and scattered body parts.”

With the cause of the blast still undetermined, investigators from Delhi Police’s special branch, forensic teams, and the National Investigation Agency have cordoned off the site to collect samples and reconstruct the sequence of events. Police confirmed they have opened a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the explosives law. Reports said four individuals have been arrested so far.

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Masked driver probe

A major line of inquiry concerns the movements of a Hyundai vehicle believed to be connected to the incident. CCTV footage reportedly shows the car entering a parking area in Old Delhi around 3 pm and remaining there for about three hours, with the driver, wearing a mask, staying inside the vehicle. Two people linked to the car, which is registered in Haryana, were detained Monday night.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country on Tuesday, vowing accountability. “The conspirators behind this will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice,” he said. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh echoed that promise, stating, “The country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident – findings of the investigation will soon be made public.” He added: “I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice and will not be spared under any circumstances.”

Home Minister Amit Shah said authorities were keeping every possibility open until laboratory results confirm the nature of the explosion, explaining they were “investigating all possible angles” and that it was “very difficult to say what caused the incident” until forensic analysis is complete.

Union Home Minister @AmitShah chairs a high-level security review meeting at his residence in New Delhi to assess the situation following the car blast near the Red Fort in the national capital last evening.#DelhiBlast | #RedFort | #LalQila pic.twitter.com/wYPaAVCghn

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 11, 2025

India has since raised its security posture nationwide, imposing heightened checks at airports, stepping up monitoring along border areas, and placing Mumbai on high alert.

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