Delhi Red Fort blast: Amit Shah chairs crucial security meeting as police probe Faridabad terror module links

The home minister had earlier visited the blast site and met the injured persons at the LNJP Hospital

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits the blast site near Red Fort in Delhi | Kritajna Naik Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits the blast site near Red Fort in Delhi | Kritajna Naik

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing a crucial security meeting on Tuesday in the wake of a high-intensity blast near Red Fort in Delhi that killed at least nine people.

Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General (DG) Sadanand Vasant Date are attending the meeting to be held at Kartavya Bhawan. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat has joined virtually.

Shah had earlier visited the blast site and met the injured persons at the LNJP Hospital. He also spoke to the Delhi police chief and the director of the Intelligence Bureau to take stock of the situation.

Later, talking to the media, Shah said the blast took place in a Hyundai i20 car at a traffic signal near Red Fort here at around 7 pm. It damaged three to four other vehicles and injured pedestrians and people travelling in auto rickshaws.

"I have also spoken to the Delhi CP and the Special Branch in charge. The Delhi CP and the Special Branch in-charge are present at the spot. We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately, and we will present the results to the public," he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police have filed a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act in connection with the blast.

Initial investigations suggest that the explosion had links to the Faridabad terror module, where a huge cache of explosive material was seized on Monday.

Umar Mohammad, a Pulwama resident and a doctor, was allegedly driving the Hyundai i20 car that was used in the explosion near the parking area of the Red Fort Metro Station, PTI reported, quoting sources.

Eight people, including three doctors, had been arrested, and 2,900 kg of explosives had been seized hours before the blast in Delhi.

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