Delhi Car Blast Triggers Anti-Terror Probe, Say Police

Indian authorities are investigating a deadly car explosion in Delhi under the country’s primary anti-terrorism legislation, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), officials confirmed on Tuesday. The blast, which occurred near the historic Red Fort on Monday evening, killed at least eight people and injured 20, marking the first such major incident in the Indian capital in over a decade.

The UAPA, India’s main anti-terror law, is designed to prosecute acts related to terrorism and threats to the nation’s sovereignty and integrity. Delhi police have also registered a case under the Explosives Act and other criminal provisions, while forensic teams continue to examine the scene for evidence that might shed light on the cause of the blast.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia described the investigation as being at a preliminary stage, warning that any conclusions at this point would be premature. Authorities said the explosion occurred just before 7pm near a traffic signal in Delhi’s congested old quarters, damaging nearby vehicles and leaving mangled wreckage across the street. The slow-moving car that detonated has not yet been fully identified, and police are tracing its owner.

The blast prompted heightened security measures across multiple states and at sensitive facilities nationwide. Residents and shopkeepers near the Red Fort, a heavily visited tourist and market area, faced early closures and traffic restrictions as investigators combed through the site. Relatives of the victims gathered at nearby Lok Nayak hospital to identify the deceased, many of whom remain unconfirmed.

Federal Home Minister Amit Shah assured the public that “all angles” were being examined and that security agencies were working to reach conclusions swiftly. The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal-era monument, is not only a major tourist attraction but also the site where India’s prime minister delivers the annual Independence Day address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a scheduled visit to Bhutan at the time of the blast.