NEW DELHI, INDIA – At least 13 people were killed and more than 20 injured in a suspected terror attack in the Indian capital, New Delhi, after a car bomb detonated during the evening rush hour on Monday, 10 November 2025. The high-intensity explosion occurred at approximately 4:22 PM East Africa Time (6:52 PM Indian Standard Time) on a busy street near the historic Red Fort, a major tourist attraction. Indian authorities have launched a full-scale anti-terrorism investigation, filing a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.

The blast originated from a white Hyundai i20 that had stopped at a traffic signal near Gate 1 of the Lal Qila metro station. The force of the explosion engulfed at least six other cars, four motorcycles, and several auto-rickshaws in flames, scattering debris and human remains across the road, according to eyewitnesses and officials from the Delhi Fire Service. Eyewitnesses described a scene of horror, with one telling the Press Trust of India about seeing body parts scattered and the sky turning red with smoke. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the injured were transported to the nearby Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital.

Extensive Investigation Points to Terror Module

A multi-agency probe is underway, involving the Delhi Police's Special Cell, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard (NSG). Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site and the injured, confirmed that investigators were exploring "all angles" and would conduct a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings have uncovered potential links to a sophisticated terror network. The investigation is focusing on the vehicle's trail, which has been traced to a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, a region with a long history of insurgency. The car had reportedly changed ownership multiple times, a common tactic used to obscure the identities of perpetrators in terror plots.

The attack occurred just hours after police in the neighbouring state of Haryana, in a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police, busted an inter-state terror module and seized a massive cache of explosives in the city of Faridabad. The seizure included approximately 2,900 kg of IED-making materials, 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Authorities had arrested two professionals, identified as Kashmiri doctors, in connection with the Faridabad explosives haul, alleging links to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror groups. Investigators are now actively probing the connection between the seized materials and the explosives used in the Red Fort blast.

Nationwide Alert and Global Implications

In the wake of the attack, a high alert was sounded across India. Security was significantly heightened in major metropolitan areas including Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, as well as in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) placed all airports, the Delhi Metro system, government buildings, and other critical infrastructure under heightened surveillance. The US Embassy in New Delhi issued a security alert for its citizens, advising them to avoid the area and remain vigilant.

While no direct link to East Africa has been established, the attack in New Delhi serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of densely populated urban centers to terrorism. For Kenya, which has experienced devastating attacks in Nairobi at locations such as the Westgate Mall and the DusitD2 complex, this incident underscores the shared global threat. The methods employed in the Delhi bombing—the use of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in a crowded public area—are consistent with tactics used by international terror groups. The event highlights the critical importance of robust domestic security measures, inter-agency cooperation, and international intelligence sharing to pre-empt and respond to such threats. The investigation into the Delhi blast, particularly its links to a wider terror module involving educated professionals, will be closely watched by security agencies worldwide, including those in Kenya, for insights into the evolving nature of modern terrorism.