Masked Suspect Caught on Camera Moments Before Red Fort Explosion (Source: X/ Mr Sinha)
The investigation into the Red Fort blast in New Delhi took a new turn after CCTV footage emerged showing a masked man driving the same Hyundai i20 that exploded minutes later, killing eight people and injuring over 20.
The new visuals, captured in a nearby parking lot, show a man wearing a black face mask behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 with the registration number HR26CE7674. The footage was recorded shortly before the explosion occurred on Monday evening at around 6:52 pm when the area near Red Fort was crowded with evening commuters.
ANI has quoted police as saying that they have accessed some CCTV clips showing the suspect's car entering and leaving the parking site. This, according to them, establishes that the suspect was alone when he reached the spot. Investigators are tracking the car's route towards Daryaganj and scanning more than 100 CCTV recordings, including those at toll plazas, for mapping its entire journey.
Preliminary footage suggests that Hyundai i20 was spotted near Sunehri Masjid in the Daryaganj market at 4 pm, nearly three hours before the blast. “The car was being driven at Chhata Rail Chowk before it took a U-turn toward Lower Subash Marg,” said an official. The car appeared to slow down near a traffic signal moments before the powerful blast happened.
The blast occurred near Netaji Subhash Marg, which is close to Lal Quila metro station. It engulfed several vehicles running in the vicinity into flames. Delhi Police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act, citing the severity and possible terror angle of the attack.
The forensic experts started collecting evidence from the site on Tuesday morning, while police teams are continuing to examine whether the blast resulted either from a transported explosive device or an accidental detonation.
Initially, officers suspected a CNG cylinder blast, but that theory has since been ruled out. "It appears to be an ammonia gel-based or similar explosive, although final confirmation will come after forensic analysis," an investigator said.
Current Investigation Authorities have now begun the process of identifying the masked suspect in the car footage. The police are tracing all routes and connections leading to the car. These new visuals will be crucial in establishing the motive and the persons behind what has now been turned into a high-profile terror case.
Also Read: Delhi on High Alert: Security Tightened at Every Delhi-NCR Station Post-Blast
