Exclusive CCTV Footage Reveals Suspect’s 3-Hour Staking Before Deadly Red Fort Blast

New Delhi , November 11, 2025: The investigation into the high-intensity car blast near Delhi’s historic Red Fort has escalated dramatically with the emergence of the first image of the prime suspect, allegedly captured moments before the explosion. Coupled with crucial CCTV footage detailing the movements of the explosive-laden vehicle, the initial findings point towards a calculated, pre-meditated act of terror, sending shockwaves across the National Capital Region.

The blast, which occurred on Monday evening during peak traffic hours near the Red Fort Metro Station (Subhash Marg traffic signal), claimed at least nine lives and injured over 20 others, gutting several vehicles and causing widespread panic in the congested Old Delhi area.

Suspect Identified: The ‘White-Collar’ Terror Link

Sources within the investigating agencies have identified the key suspect as Dr. Umar Mohammad, a medical professional and alleged operative of a recently busted “white-collar” terror module with links to proscribed groups. Dr. Umar, reportedly from Pulwama in South Kashmir, is believed to have been driving the white Hyundai i20 (bearing registration number HR 26CE 7674) that became the source of the high-intensity explosion.

• First Image Surfaces: A crucial CCTV grab, accessed by news agencies, purportedly shows Dr. Umar in the driver’s seat of the i20 just before the blast. In subsequent frames, a masked man, also identified as the suspect, is seen behind the wheel.
• A Fidayeen Act? Investigators are probing the possibility that Dr. Umar carried out the attack as a fidayeen (suicide) act, potentially panicking after the massive haul of explosives and the arrests of his associates in a related case in Faridabad earlier the same day.

The Chilling 3-Hour Timeline

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage has painted a chilling picture of the planning and execution, revealing that the explosive-laden car was deliberately parked near the historic monument for a prolonged period before being moved to the blast site.

• Entry to Parking: The Hyundai i20 was captured entering a parking lot adjacent to the Red Fort, near the Sunehri Masjid, at approximately 3:19 PM on Monday afternoon.
• The Wait: The vehicle remained stationary in the parking area for nearly three and a half hours. Authorities suspect the driver, potentially Dr. Umar, stayed inside the car during this long wait, a grim act of staking out the area.
• Exit and Explosion: The car exited the parking lot at around 6:48 PM and, just minutes later, the devastating explosion occurred at the Subhash Marg traffic signal around 6:52 PM, a time when the area was crowded with evening commuters.

Intensified Multi-Agency Probe

The probe, now being treated as a terror case with the invocation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been taken over by multiple top-tier agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Delhi Police Special Cell.

• Vehicle Tracing: Investigations into the car’s ownership revealed it had changed hands multiple times, leading back to a Pulwama resident after being sold by its registered owner in Gurugram.
• Route Mapping: Over 100 CCTV clips, including footage from nearby toll plazas, are being meticulously examined to reconstruct the vehicle’s entire route before it reached the Red Fort area.
• Forensics and DNA: Forensic teams are analyzing the remnants of the vehicle and the body parts recovered from the scene. DNA tests are being conducted on the retrieved remains to definitively confirm the identity of the driver/suspected suicide bomber.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the blast site and met with the injured, has assured that the investigation will be thorough, with all angles being explored. Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded across Delhi and neighbouring states as security agencies race to uncover the full scope of the conspiracy.