November 10 Red Fort Terror Attack : This briefing consolidates verified intelligence from NIA sources, forensic reports, and inter-agency communications regarding the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack near Red Fort, Old Delhi. The incident, executed via a suicide bombing, resulted in 10 fatalities (including the bomber) and 32 injuries, primarily civilians in a high-traffic evening market area. The NIA’s arrest today marks a pivotal disruption in a suspected Pakistan-backed terror module.
Incident Timeline
| Time/Event | Details |
|---|---|
| November 10, 2025, 18:45 IST | White Maruti Eeco van (DL-12-CA-4567) accelerates into crowd near Red Fort’s Lahori Gate during Diwali afterglow festivities. Detonation occurs on impact, scattering shrapnel and fireball over 50m radius. Initial blast radius: ~15m lethal, ~30m injury. Explosive yield estimated at 20-25kg TNT equivalent (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mix with RDX boosters). |
| 18:50-19:30 IST | Emergency response: Delhi Fire Services extinguish fire; 112 ambulances evacuate wounded to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and GTB Hospital. 5 immediate deaths on-site; 4 more in ER from shrapnel/thermal injuries. |
| November 11-12, 2025 | Delhi Police secure perimeter; NSG bomb squad confirms VBIED. Case transferred to NIA under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) due to cross-border links. Forensic teams recover 73% of bomber’s remains for DNA. |
| November 13-15, 2025 | Raids in J&K (Pulwama, Pampore), Haryana (Faridabad), UP (Noida). 12 suspects detained for questioning; digital forensics yield encrypted chats on Signal/Telegram linking to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers. |
| November 16, 2025, 14:00 IST | NIA arrests Amir Rashid Ali in South Delhi hideout. Interrogation ongoing at NIA HQ, Lodhi Road. |
Key Individuals Involved
- Umar Un Nabi (Deceased Suicide Bomber)
- Profile: 32-year-old Kashmiri Muslim from Pulwama district, J&K. Held MSc in Biotechnology; employed as Assistant Professor (General Medicine) at Al Falah University, Faridabad, since 2023. No prior criminal record; radicalized via online sermons (per NIA psych profile). Married, one child (5yo daughter).
- Role: Primary executor. Drove VBIED from Noida safehouse to target. Last known movements: Departed university hostel November 8; acquired explosives from black-market supplier in Ghaziabad November 9.
- Evidence: DNA match from blast site tissue (99.9% certainty via FSL Hyderabad). Seized laptop contains manifestos praising 2001 Parliament attack; geolocation pings trace to LeT training camps in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). Personal vehicle (Hyundai i10, HR-51-AB-7890) impounded for residue tests.
- Amir Rashid Ali (Arrested Aide/Co-Conspirator)
- Profile: 28-year-old from Samboora village, Pampore tehsil, Pulwama, J&K. Unemployed mechanic with history of stone-pelting arrests (2016-2019). Related to Nabi via extended family (cousin’s husband).
- Role: Logistics facilitator. Purchased and registered VBIED in his name October 25, 2025, via proxy dealer in Kashmir. Transported vehicle to Delhi November 5; assisted in explosive loading at Noida warehouse. Fled to Delhi post-blast but tracked via CCTV and mobile tower dumps.
- Evidence: Vehicle RC (Registration Certificate) in Ali’s name. Recovered burner phone with calls to Nabi (47 instances, Oct 15-Nov 9) and overseas numbers routed through PoK (+92 prefixes). Cash seizure: ₹4.2 lakh, suspected hawala funds. Ali’s confession (under Section 164 CrPC) implicates 3 more operatives at large.
- Suspected Handlers (Fugitives)
- Saifullah Mir (Alias: Abu Qasim): 35, LeT commander in PoK. Linked via voice notes directing “Diwali surprise.” Bounty: ₹10 lakh (NIA).
- Unnamed Financier: Traced to Dubai via Western Union transfers (₹15 lakh total, Oct-Nov). Interpol Red Notice pending.
- Local Recruiter: Believed to be a Srinagar-based overground worker (OGW); raids ongoing.
Forensic and Technical Analysis
- Explosive Composition: ANFO (94%) + RDX (6%) with ball bearings for shrapnel. Sourced from stone quarry thefts in J&K (verified via isotope tracing). No cyber trigger; manual detonation via dead-man switch.
- Digital Footprint: 1.2TB data seized from 5 devices. Encrypted apps reveal 200+ messages in Urdu/English plotting “urban jihad.” IP logs point to VPNs hosted in Lahore, Pakistan.
- Victim Breakdown:CategoryFatalitiesInjuriesNotesCivilians725Includes 3 children, 2 vendors.Security Personnel1 (Constable)4Traffic cop nearest blast.Bomber10Umar Un Nabi.Unconfirmed13Pending ID.
- Damage Assessment: Structural (Red Fort walls: minor cracks); Economic (₹50 crore in market losses, per MCD estimate).
Broader Implications and Linkages
- Terror Network: Strong indicators of LeT orchestration, with tactical parallels to 2019 Pulwama attack (VBIED on CRPF convoy). Potential for copycat urban strikes during holiday season; NIA alerts issued to 8 metro cities.
- Geopolitical Angle: Pakistan’s ISI denial anticipated; MEA briefing scheduled November 17. UNSC 1267 listing push for LeT affiliates.
- Security Gaps Exposed: Lapses in vehicle screening at Delhi entry points (e.g., no AI bollards at Lahori Gate). Recommendations: Enhance CCTVs with facial rec; integrate J&K intel with NCR fusion centers.
- Public/Political Response: PMO condemns as “cowardly”; opposition demands white paper on intel failures. Social media surge: #RedFortBlast trends with 2.5M posts (per X analytics). Victim families’ aid: ₹10 lakh ex-gratia each.
Next Steps and Recommendations
- Immediate (24-48 hrs): Intensify manhunt for 3 fugitives; polygraph Ali for handler details. Cross-verify with RAW inputs on PoK camps.
- Short-Term (1 Week): Court remand for Ali (Dec 20 hearing); release interim charge sheet. Public awareness campaign on suspicious vehicles.
- Long-Term: Bolster NIA’s J&K desk with 50 specialists; audit radicalization in educational institutions (e.g., Al Falah University probe).
- Risk Level: HIGH – Credible chatter of secondary attack in Mumbai/Pune. Alert status: Yellow nationwide.