Authorities in India have arrested a man in connection with a car bomb attack in Delhi last week that killed eight people and injured 20 others.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the vehicle used in the attack, which the government has classified as a “terrorist incident,” was registered in the suspect’s name. He is accused of conspiring with the alleged suicide bomber and is reportedly a resident of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The explosion occurred near a metro station close to the historic Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, marking the first such blast in the heavily guarded city since 2011. Monday evening’s attack took place at 18:52 local time (13:22 GMT) when a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a busy traffic signal and then exploded.
Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the vehicle involved was a white Hyundai i20. Footage from the scene showed a charred car and other damaged vehicles, including an autorickshaw and cycle rickshaws.
The NIA has seized another vehicle allegedly linked to the suicide bomber and has interrogated 73 witnesses, including those injured in the blast. Investigators are also probing potential connections to the recent arrests of seven men in Indian-administered Kashmir and the seizure of 2,900kg of explosives in a Delhi suburb.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the attack as a “conspiracy” and vowed to bring the “perpetrators, their collaborators and their sponsors” to justice. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the incident “extremely heartbreaking.”
The 17th-century Red Fort, a popular tourist destination, also serves as the backdrop for India’s annual Independence Day speeches by the prime minister.
