The car, which had been the focus of a multi-state manhunt, is now being thoroughly examined by forensic teams.
The investigation into the deadly Delhi blast has taken a major turn after police in Haryana’s Faridabad located the red Ford EcoSport suspected to be used by the prime accused, Dr Umar Un Nabi. The vehicle was found parked near Khandawali village, a few kilometres from the Delhi-Haryana border, officials said on Wednesday.
The car, which had been the focus of a multi-state manhunt, is now being thoroughly examined by forensic teams. The police believe it holds crucial clues about the planning and execution of the Red Fort blast, which killed ten people and injured more than twenty others earlier this week.
Delhi Police had earlier sounded a high alert across all police stations, border checkpoints, and posts to trace the vehicle. According to officials, five special police teams were deployed to locate the car. Neighbouring states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, were also alerted as part of the expanded probe.
The discovery near Khandawali is seen as a breakthrough in the case. Investigators believe the car was used by Umar Un Nabi, one of the key suspects in the case, to escape after the blast near the Red Fort Metro Station in Old Delhi.
In a separate but tense development, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport received a bomb threat via email on Wednesday. The message, sent to IndiGo Airlines’ grievance portal, claimed that explosives had been planted at multiple airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa.
Security teams immediately cordoned off Terminal 3 and conducted a thorough sweep of the premises. The fire brigade received a call at around 4 PM, but officials later confirmed that the threat was a hoax after nothing suspicious was found.
Meanwhile, at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, several victims of the Red Fort blast continue to fight for their lives.
A senior hospital official said that out of 27 injured, three remain in the ICU, and two are in critical condition. “Three patients have taken Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA),” the official told PTI.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with survivors at the LNJP Hospital shortly after returning from Bhutan. During his visit, he assured the victims that those behind the attack would be brought to justice and wished them a speedy recovery.
Authorities have widened the investigation to include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The Haryana STF recently raided Al-Falah University in Faridabad’s Dhauj area, where three suspects — all doctors — were reportedly associated with a Jaish-e-Mohammed module.
Police sources said that large quantities of explosives and weapons had been recovered from properties linked to the suspects. One of the accused, Dr Umar Un Nabi, is also believed to have been driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort.
As forensic experts analyse the recovered red Ford EcoSport, investigators say they are closing in on a major terror network possibly linked to cross-border groups.
