Indian police have opened a terrorism investigation into a deadly car explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort that killed at least eight people and injured 20 others, officials said Tuesday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The blast, which occurred Monday evening in one of the capital’s busiest areas, shattered a decade of relative calm in the city. It marked the first major explosion in Delhi since 2011, prompting heightened security and an investigation under India’s main anti-terrorism law.
Speaking during a scheduled visit to Bhutan on Tuesday, Modi said he was deeply disturbed by the tragedy.
“Today, I have come to Bhutan with a very heavy heart,” he told a public gathering in Thimphu. “The horrific incident that happened in Delhi last evening has deeply disturbed everyone. Our agencies will get to the very bottom of this conspiracy. The conspirators behind this will not be spared.”
Modi’s remarks came as forensic teams and anti-terror police combed through the debris-strewn site, sealing off the area around the Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal landmark and one of India’s most visited tourist attractions.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia confirmed that authorities have registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s primary anti-terrorism law, alongside provisions of the Explosives Act and other criminal statutes. “The investigation is at a preliminary stage, and any comment on it will be too premature,” Banthia told reporters.
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According to police, a slow-moving car stopped at a traffic signal near a metro station around 7 p.m. local time before it exploded. Several nearby vehicles were destroyed, and mangled wreckage littered the street. Forensic officers worked through the night, while nearby shops remained shuttered Tuesday morning.
Police said they were working to identify the car’s owner and the occupants, who are believed to have been killed in the blast.
Relatives of the victims gathered outside Lok Nayak Hospital to identify bodies. “We at least know my cousin is here, but we don’t know his condition,” one relative told local media, visibly distressed.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said a “swift and thorough” investigation was underway and that findings would be made public soon.
The Red Fort, known locally as Lal Qila, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that blends Persian and Indian architectural styles. It serves as the platform from which the prime minister addresses the nation each Independence Day on August 15.
The blast has raised alarm over security in the capital, which hosts several high-profile national events and diplomatic missions.
Modi is currently in Bhutan for celebrations marking the 70th birthday of the country’s former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. His visit comes amid ongoing regional security tensions.
Earlier this year, Modi cut short a trip to Saudi Arabia following an attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu pilgrims. New Delhi blamed that incident on militants backed by Pakistan — an accusation Islamabad denied. The confrontation triggered the most intense clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades before a ceasefire was reached.
The Red Fort blast has reignited fears of renewed militant activity in India’s capital, prompting authorities to tighten surveillance around major landmarks and public transport hubs.
