New Delhi, November 14: Delhi Police on Thursday confirmed that Dr Umar Un Nabi, also known in some reports as Umar Nabi Bhat, was driving the explosive-laden car that detonated near the Red Fort in a blast that killed 13 people and injured more than 20 earlier this week.
Officials said DNA and forensic evidence established Umar’s role in the attack, which security agencies have classified as a terrorist incident. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the probe, with several agencies coordinating to track what they say is a wider network of suspects.
Authorities cautioned that the investigation remains active and that information released to the public is being carefully vetted. The Lal Quila metro station will remain shut until further notice as a security precaution.
CCTV footage dated Nov. 10 shows Umar walking near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Old Delhi shortly before the explosion. Investigators are scrutinising his movements, associates and potential foreign links. Another suspect, Umar Mohammad, has also been tied to the timeline of events on the day of the attack.
Security officials said they uncovered a Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked module that had allegedly planned six coordinated blasts across the National Capital Region on Dec. 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. Interrogations pointed to a multi-phase plot for serial attacks.
The i20 car used in the Red Fort explosion had changed hands five times since it was first purchased in 2014 by a Gurugram resident, investigators said, adding that the chain of ownership was being examined for potential links to the conspiracy.
The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out 13 raids across the Valley on Thursday in connection with what authorities described as a Srinagar–Delhi blast module. During earlier searches, agencies recovered diaries belonging to Dr Umar Mohammad and Dr Muzammil Shakeel, containing repeated references to the word “operation”. Another diary found in Muzammil’s Dhauj residence — where 360 kg of explosives were seized — is being analysed for clues about the planning of the attack.
The blast has reignited concerns over urban security and intelligence coordination, prompting reviews of safety protocols around key public spaces. Rights groups have urged investigators to ensure due process as the probe expands.
The Logical Indian, a civic-oriented media platform, called for transparency, independent oversight and clear evidence-based disclosures, saying that public trust depends on balancing swift action with strong civil liberty safeguards.
