Delhi Incident Explained: Full Timeline & Updates
On November 10, a car explosion, which took place near the Red Fort in Delhi and claimed the lives of at least 13 people and injured dozens, was reported to be a terrorist attack, prompting a multi-agency investigation, which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was assigned. Video footage of the incident depicts a sluggishly moving white Hyundai i20 catching fire just after 6.52 pm in the areas around Lal Qila Metro, destroying vehicles around the area and causing panic among the already dense streets of Old Delhi. The red fort metro station has been closed and the checkpoints around the National Capital Region (NCR) have been tightened as forensic teams search the premises to find traces of explosives and parts of the devices.
The investigators have associated the blast with a suspected terror cell that has possible connections with Jaish-e-Mohammed with a group of doctors linked to Al-Falah University in Faridabad. Several suspects have been detained, coded diaries, electronics seized and several more vehicles have been confiscated by the police and central agencies as part of a bigger plan. According to intelligence reports, the module supposedly planned coordinated serial attacks in six more sites on December 6 a date that was selected to coincide with the Babri Masjid destruction anniversary, operating in time before timelines were delayed by operational difficulties. Raids are being done in Jammu and Kashmir and the NCR to break the network and target external handlers.
The investigation is tracking the trail of possession of the vehicles, explosive material components and funding and comparing communications with foreign-based intermediaries. The response of the international community has comprised of condemnation and offers of cooperation; foreign ministries in the region have come out to state that they are in solidarity with India, and leaders in nations with alliances stated that the attack is indeed terror-related. Local governments have advised the population not to be speculative, report suspicious vehicles and adhere to the confirmed recommendations as they increase security measures within markets, transit areas and landmarks. The agencies should issue more findings on the composition of the explosive, the procurement trail and the command structure of the module, as the investigation hastens.
