Red Fort closed for 3 days after blast; 4 suspects linked to the explosion detained
The iconic Red Fort has been closed to the public for the next three days as investigators expand their probe into Monday’s deadly car blast near its Metro Gate No. 1, which left nine people dead and over a dozen injured.
Delhi Police and central agencies have detained four suspects linked to the explosion and are conducting extensive searches across the city, including hotels and lodges in the Paharganj and Daryaganj areas.
According to senior police officials, preliminary investigations suggest the blast was caused by a high-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) placed inside a Hyundai i20 car parked close to the fort’s entrance.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi Police Special Cell are jointly leading the probe, with forensic teams combing through CCTV footage and debris for clues.
“We have detained four individuals for questioning. They were staying in different guesthouses near Old Delhi and are believed to have links with a suspected terror module operating out of Haryana and Jammu,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.
“The Red Fort area remains sealed, and all tourist entry has been suspended until further notice for security and sanitisation checks.”
Dozens of police teams fanned out early Tuesday morning across central and north Delhi, searching hotels, lodges, and rented accommodations often frequented by short-term visitors.
Paharganj and Daryaganj—known for their dense clusters of budget hotels—have become key focus zones after investigators found leads pointing to possible hideouts in the area.
Meanwhile, heavy deployment of security forces has been reported in and around the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and Jama Masjid zones. Sniffer dogs, bomb squads, and anti-terror units have been deployed, while Delhi Metro services near the heritage site are operating under heightened vigilance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sought a detailed report from Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, with top-level coordination meetings underway between the NIA, IB, and NSG to trace the origin of the explosives and the network behind the attack.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm but vigilant. “We are pursuing every lead. The capital remains on high alert,” said a senior Home Ministry official.
The Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has faced terror threats before, most notably the 2000 attack claimed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Monday’s blast marks the most serious security incident near the monument in over two decades.