Preliminary forensic work on the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort indicates that the device involved ammonium-nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) combined with detonators, officials say.
The powerful explosion killed nine people and wounded more than twenty, underscoring how commonplace industrial chemicals can be turned into lethal weapons when mixed and triggered deliberately.
What is ammonium nitrate & ANFO?
Ammonium nitrate is a common white crystalline compound chiefly used as a nitrogen rich fertiliser. Stable and non-reactive under normal conditions, it becomes hazardous when mixed with a combustible material such as fuel oil.
The mixture is ANFO commonly contains about 94% ammonium nitrate and 6% fuel oil. In this form the oxidiser and fuel are combined so that the material can sustain a rapid exothermic reaction once it is detonated with a suitable booster.
How ANFO is initiated & why it’s widely used
ANFO is relatively insensitive to casual ignition: it needs a high-energy initiating charge is a detonator or a booster explosive to produce a full detonation.
That relative insensitivity, together with low cost and ease of assembly from commercially available components, has made ANFO attractive for legitimate bulk applications like mining and quarrying and regrettably, for malign uses as well.
The porous prills of ammonium nitrate readily absorb fuel oil, forming a transportable and concealable explosive matrix.
Why ANFO produces such destructive force
When properly initiated, ANFO liberates its energy in a very short period of time, generating a supersonic shock front and a high-temperature gas cloud consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and steam. It is the pressure wave from this sudden expansion that creates the bulk of the damage to structures and personnel.
Although the detonation velocity of ANFO is considerably lower than that of military high explosives, its power is directly proportional to quantity a large, confined load can produce an extraordinary outcome. Toxic combustion by-products including nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, remain as an added danger in the wake of the explosion.
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Use in attacks & policy implications
Because of its accessibility and destructive potential, ANFO has featured in many improvised explosive device incidents around the world. The Delhi investigation which alleges detonators and traces of ammonium nitrate at the scene fits that troubling pattern. India regulates ammonium-nitrate mixtures tightly and treating formulations above a defined concentration as explosive material and restricting sale and movement.
The Red Fort tragedy highlights gaps that can be exploited supply chain monitoring, better storage safeguards, stricter movement controls and rapid intelligence sharing are all vital. The incident is a grim reminder that common industrial chemicals, unless carefully governed, can be repurposed into instruments of mass harm and that policy, enforcement and public vigilance must keep pace.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on verified preliminary reports. Investigation is ongoing; details may change as new forensic findings emerge.
