New Delhi — Investigating agencies have identified Dr. Mohammad Umar Nabi as the prime suspect in the car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort. Umar, a wanted terrorist, was reportedly inside the vehicle at the time of the explosion. Forensic teams recovered his teeth, bone fragments, blood-stained clothing, and part of a foot wedged between the steering wheel and accelerator. DNA testing has confirmed a match with his mother’s sample, officially establishing his identity.
According to investigation sources, Umar was captured five times on CCTV cameras across Delhi prior to the blast. Despite being under the radar, he moved freely around the city, visiting places like Connaught Place and a mosque in Old Delhi, before parking near Red Fort for nearly three hours on the day of the incident.
CCTV Trail and Timeline
- October 29: The white Hyundai i20 (registration HR 26 CE 7674) later used in the blast was seen at 4:20 p.m. on the Delhi–Mumbai–Vadodara Expressway near Faridabad. Three men were inside, reportedly getting a pollution certificate at a nearby petrol station. One of them, identified as Tariq, was the registered owner of the vehicle — a name used by Umar to purchase the car.
- November 10, 8:03 a.m.: CCTV footage shows the i20 crossing the Badarpur Border toll plaza from Faridabad into Delhi. Umar is seen driving, wearing a mask, and handing cash to the toll attendant while repeatedly glancing toward the CCTV camera, apparently aware he was being tracked. A backpack can be seen in the rear seat of the car.
- Around 10:00 a.m.: Umar visited the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate, adjacent to Ramlila Maidan in Old Delhi. CCTV footage captured him entering and exiting the mosque, where he stayed for about ten minutes. His face is clearly visible in the recording.
- 2:05 p.m.: The suspect was again captured in Connaught Place’s Outer Circle, driving the same i20 car. The area is located just three kilometers from the Parliament complex.
- 6:22 p.m.: The i20 was seen entering the Red Fort parking area, queuing at the toll booth. Umar is seen extending his arm out of the window to collect a parking slip. This 1.5-minute video is among the clearest CCTV visuals of the terrorist.
The Blast
At 6:51 p.m., CCTV footage from near Red Fort Metro Station shows over 20 vehicles waiting at a traffic signal. As the light turned green and vehicles began moving, the i20 suddenly exploded. The massive blast set off a fireball, destroying nearby cars and scattering debris across the road.
Thirteen people were killed, and several others sustained severe burn injuries.
Investigators are now reconstructing Umar’s final 11 hours in Delhi using minute-by-minute CCTV evidence. They are also probing possible accomplices who may have helped him assemble the explosives or plan the attack.
