8 Killed In Blast Near Red Fort, Car With People Exploded At Traffic Signal

Eight people were killed and 20 injured after a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car with passengers this evening near Delhi's historic Red Fort, one of India's most high-profile spots. The blast took place in a white Hyundai i20 car at 6.52 near the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving mangled bodies and wrecked cars scattered in the busy area. "We are probing all angles," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a briefing, right before visiting the blast site.

"The blast took place in a slow-moving vehicle that stopped at the Red Fort traffic signal. There were occupants in the car. The blast damaged cars nearby," Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters. The explosion damaged three to four vehicles.  

The Hyundai i20 car had a Haryana registration number.

India's premier terror probe agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard have joined the investigations.

Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Haryana, Punjab, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are on high alert, and so is Bihar, which is set to vote in the second and final round of polling tomorrow. Authorities in Kerala have also directed the police to strengthen security across the state. All major railway stations across the country are also on high alert.

Disturbing visuals showed bodies on the ground, severed body parts, and mangled cars. 

"We responded immediately, and seven units were sent to the spot. At 7:29 PM, the fire was brought under control," said Deputy Chief Fire Officer AK Malik.

Moments after the blast, an unprecedented number of police and security personnel filled the area, which sees heavy tourist traffic all year.

Ambulances streamed into a nearby public hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP), carrying several injured people. Outside, anxious relatives gathered after hearing that their loved ones had been brought in.

The blast took place on a day a massive haul of 2,900 kg of explosives was found just 50 km from the capital, in neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.

The 17th-century Mughal-built Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, is located in the congested old quarters of Delhi and is a popular tourist destination. The area is also home to the Chandni Chowk Market, one of the busiest and oldest markets in Delhi, which sees 4-6 lakh daily visitors.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta while ensuring that every possible assistance is being ensured for those affected, appealed to people to "avoid rumours and maintain peace".

"Please rely only on official information issued by the police and administration," she said.

Home Minister Briefs PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the blast. The Delhi Police Commissioner and chiefs of the NIA and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are regularly updating the Home Minister about the situation, sources in the government said.

Amit Shah has said that the blast will be probed thoroughly.

"Within 10 minutes of receiving the information of the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the spot. The NSG and NIA teams, along with the FSL, have now begun a thorough investigation. Orders have been given to examine all nearby CCTV cameras," Shah said.

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public. I will be heading to the spot shortly and will also visit the hospital immediately," he added.

He went to the blast site and also visited the LNJP hospital to meet the injured.

"Huge Fireball"

Zeeshan, an auto driver who got injured due to the blast, said, "The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don't know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded."

"I saw a huge fireball from the terrace of my house. There was a huge sound. The blast shook the windows of the buildings," said a witness.

“I was at the gurdwara when I heard a strong sound. We couldn't make out what it was; it was that loud,” said another.