Red Fort Blast: CCTV Shows Umar Built Explosive in Car, Shifted Target Last Minute
News Desk: Investigators probing the deadly Red Fort blast have uncovered a key detail: Umar Mohammed — also known as Umar un-Nabi — allegedly assembled the explosive device inside his Hyundai i-20 while parked for nearly three hours at a public parking lot near Delhi’s Sunehri Masjid.
CCTV footage shows Umar entering the lot at 3:19 pm and leaving at 6:28 pm, just 24 minutes before the blast ripped through Netaji Subhash Marg at 6:52 pm. Crucially, the video confirms he never stepped out of the vehicle during the entire duration — a clue that now matches investigators’ reconstruction of the plot.
CCTV footage from the Red Fort blast — just look how massive and terrifying the explosion was.
This wasn’t just a blast, it was a direct attack on India’s heart. #RedFortBlast #India #DelhiBlast pic.twitter.com/gGQfJYWAhd
— Amar Singh Chouhan (@amar_4inc) November 12, 2025
Guided by Handlers Across Delhi
Sources say Umar was in constant communication with his handlers from the moment he entered the Capital on the morning of the attack. The discussions reportedly centred on choosing the precise location for maximum impact.
Before steering toward Old Delhi, Umar drove through Mayur Vihar and Connaught Place, apparently scouting potential targets.
The Red Fort vicinity was eventually chosen — partly due to its powerful symbolic value.
Red Fort Closure Forced Plot Shift
But the conspirators miscalculated. Monday is the weekly closure for the Red Fort, leaving the parking area almost empty.
With their original plan compromised, the handlers allegedly instructed Umar to shift the attack to Netaji Subhash Marg, a busy road wedged between the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Bomb Assembled in Car, Then Driven to Blast Site
Investigators now believe Umar spent his three-hour halt in the parking lot assembling the bomb inside the car itself.
Once the device was ready, he left the area and drove toward the packed intersection.
Minutes later, the white i-20 exploded at a red light, killing 13 people and injuring 20, sending shockwaves across Delhi.
Panic Triggered Early Execution
Officials say Umar was under severe pressure after the arrest of two close associates — doctors Muzammil and Shaheen — linked to the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad.
Fearing his own arrest was imminent, Umar allegedly sped up the plan and carried out the attack in haste.
What was meant to be a carefully timed operation instead became a rushed and deadly detonation, executed under panic and guided remotely by handlers.
