On the evening of 10 November 2025, a powerful blast tore through a car parked near the Red Fort / Lal Qila metro area in Old Delhi. The shock was imm
On the evening of 10 November 2025, a powerful blast tore through a car parked near the Red Fort / Lal Qila metro area in Old Delhi. The shock was immediate: burning vehicles, panicked crowds, and emergency services rushing in. Over the next hours the story unfolded quickly — arrests, forensic teams, and a nationwide security alert. Here’s what we know, in plain language, with a timeline and explanation.
Quick summary up front
A car exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro area, killing multiple people and injuring several others.
Delhi Police registered an FIR that includes charges under anti-terror and explosives laws (UAPA and the Explosive Substances Act).
The owner of the car has been detained; investigators are also looking into links with a larger explosives seizure and arrests in the NCR region.
Large parts of Delhi-NCR (including Noida and Ghaziabad) were placed on high alert, with intensified checks at city borders and transport hubs.
Timeline — minute by minute, then by the first hours
~6:40–7:00 PM (local time) — The blast
Witnesses reported a deafening explosion at or near a traffic signal outside the Red Fort metro gate area. Flames and thick smoke rose quickly, and nearby vehicles caught fire. Eyewitness videos showed chaos and bystanders trying to help. AP News
Within 10–20 minutes — Emergency response
Fire tenders and ambulances arrived. Police cordoned off the scene. Hospitals in the area triaged the injured. Officials began collecting CCTV footage.
Few hours after the blast — Initial investigation steps
The Delhi Police detained the registered owner of the car used in the blast. Forensics teams examined the vehicle to determine the cause — whether it was a CNG/cylinder accident, an improvised explosive device, or something else. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was reported to be involved or likely to take over the probe.
Same day — Broader security reaction
Authorities raised security across Delhi-NCR and other cities; Noida, Ghaziabad and some other districts increased checks at borders, malls, transit hubs and major intersections. Officials also examined whether this incident is linked to other recent discoveries/seizures of explosives in the region.
Overnight / next morning — FIR and charges
Delhi Police registered an FIR listing the Explosive Substances Act and also invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) — signaling that investigators are treating the incident as potentially terror-linked until investigations show otherwise. Political leaders and central ministries convened to review the security situation.
Who is suspected / who’s been detained so far?
Media reports say the Hyundai i20 involved was registered to a man who has been detained; reporting indicates the registered owner said he had sold the car to another person (named in press accounts). Investigators are following ownership records, sale documentation and CCTV to establish who used the car and how explosives (if any) were placed.
In parallel, authorities reported arrests and seizures elsewhere in the NCR region (Faridabad, Gujarat and other places are mentioned in different reports) that investigators are checking for possible links to the Red Fort blast — including arrests of people described in some reports as medical professionals questioned in related probes. These are active lines of inquiry and being probed by multiple agencies.
Important:
Investigations are ongoing and authorities have not publicly released a complete list of suspects or a final motive. Reported names and leads are provisional and under verification by the police and central agencies.
What’s happening in Delhi and at the nearby city borders now?
The immediate blast site was cordoned, and traffic around Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk was diverted while forensic teams worked. Metro authorities and city police increased vigilance around key stations.
Delhi-NCR (Noida, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh) were placed under heightened surveillance with more vehicle checks and patrols. Major malls, transport hubs, and public gathering points were inspected. State governments instructed police forces to step up monitoring.
What investigators are focusing on
Nature of the explosion — forensic teams are testing residue to determine if the blast was caused by a vehicle gas cylinder, an improvised explosive device (IED), or some other explosive material. This is key for motive and charges.
Who placed or used the device / ownership trail — investigators are tracing car ownership, sale transfers, phone records, recent movements shown by CCTV, and any suspicious purchases.
Possible links to other seizures/arrests — police are comparing evidence with other seizures reported in nearby districts (for example, recent large explosive seizures and arrests in the NCR and other states)
Political and social reaction — what leaders said and what it may mean
Senior leaders including the Home Minister and the Prime Minister publicly expressed grief and called for a full inquiry; central agencies (NIA/others) were reported to be involved or likely to be involved. This signals that the government is treating the incident as a national security issue and not merely a local accident.
Politically, incidents like this sharpen debates on public safety, intelligence sharing, and urban security planning. Opposition parties and civil society will likely question lapses in checkpoints, surveillance blind spots, or how a vehicle with dangerous contents reached a crowded area. The government will emphasize swift arrests and a tougher security posture. Expect a short-term tightening of checks around national monuments and transportation hubs, and intensified scrutiny of cross-border vehicle movement into the capital.
What this means for people living or travelling in Delhi right now
Expect stronger security at metro stations, airports, bus terminals and city borders. If you live in or travel through Delhi, carry ID, allow extra time for checks, and rely on official channels (police alerts, verified news, metro updates) for travel decisions. Avoid sharing unverified videos or messages that can fuel panic.
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