Delhi Red Fort blast: The Delhi Police has been put on high alert and massive checking drives are being carried out across the national capital following the powerful explosion near the Red Fort metro station that left 12 people dead and many injured.
In a major breakthrough in the Red Fort blast investigation, the interrogation of the arrested accused has revealed crucial details about the planning and reconnaissance carried out before the powerful explosion near the Red Fort metro station that left 12 people dead and many injured.
During the interrogation, Dr Muzammil Ganaie, who was arrested in connection with a terror module operating from Faridabad, revealed that he and Dr Umar Nabi, also known as Dr Umar Mohammad, had conducted a recce of the Red Fort in the first week of January as part of a larger terror plot.
Attack was planned on Jan 26, Diwali
Investigators retrieved this information from the dump data recovered from Dr Muzammil's mobile phone.
During the interrogation, the investigating agency also learned that targeting the Red Fort on January 26 (Republic Day) was part of their initial plan. The sources further revealed that the module had also been planning to target a crowded public place during Diwali.
The Red Fort blast on a busy Monday evening came hours after eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a "white collar" terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Police sources say that Dr Umar was a member of a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist module, which also included Dr Muzammil and Dr Adil Ahmed Dar.
Initial probe suggests 'accidental' detonation of explosives
Findings of the initial probe into the blast near the Red Fort suggest it may have been "accidentally triggered" while a hastily assembled explosive device was being transported, following the busting of an inter-state terror module, officials said on Tuesday. "The bomb was premature and not fully developed, thus limiting the impact. The explosion did not create a crater and no shrapnel or projectiles were found," he added.
Investigators have zeroed in on a Pulwama-based doctor, Umar Nabi, who was driving the car used in the explosion, and had alleged links to the terror module busted with the recovery of explosives mainly from neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.
Over 40 samples collected from blast site
Two cartridges, including a live ammunition, and samples of two different types of explosives are among more than 40 samples that have been collected by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team from the blast site near the Red Fort, officials said on Wednesday.
Preliminary analysis suggests that one of the explosive samples appears to be ammonium nitrate, they said.
On Monday, 360 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered from Faridabad during an investigation in Faridabad when Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, both connected to Al Falah University, were arrested.
"The second explosive sample is believed to be more powerful than ammonium nitrate. Its exact composition will be confirmed after detailed forensic examination," an official said.
Further investigation is underway to determine the nature of the explosives and how they were used in the blast, the officials added.
