The UN has attributed the 2025 Red Fort blast to AQIS, while its latest report warns of evolving terror networks, cryptocurrency financing and chemical and biological threats.
New Delhi: A United Nations Security Council monitoring team has attributed the November 2025 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), adding a new international assessment to the ongoing Indian investigation.
The UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said in its latest report that AQIS had evolved from a fragmented organisation into a regional terrorist network operating through small, decentralised cells.
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The report specifically attributed the November 2025 attack near the Red Fort in Delhi to AQIS.
The blast, which occurred in 10 November 2025, killed 11 people and injured more than 20 others. The explosion involved a Hyundai i20 near the historic monument, with investigators identifying Umar un-Nabi as the suspected driver. He died in the blast.
Earlier report had pointed to Jaish-e-Mohammed
The latest UN assessment is significant because an earlier report had cited information from a member state linking the Red Fort attack to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The latest report instead officially attributes the attack to AQIS, providing a different assessment of the terror network allegedly behind the incident.
Indian authorities have separately investigated suspected links between the attackers and AQIS-linked Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
NIA investigation continues
The National Investigation Agency is investigating the case as a terror attack.
The agency has filed a chargesheet running into around 7,500 pages against 11 accused persons. The prosecution has cited more than 580 witnesses.
The Rouse Avenue Court has listed the chargesheet for consideration on August 27.
UN flags chemical and biological threats
The UN monitoring team also warned about the continuing interest of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates in chemical and biological weapons.
The report said these groups have not overcome the technical challenges needed to produce such weapons, but instructions on developing chemical and biological agents have circulated in online terrorist communities.
The assessment also highlighted the reported interest of ISIL-K in ricin and noted the circulation of material related to chemical and biological agents.
Terror groups increasingly explore cryptocurrency
The report further warned that terrorist groups are increasingly examining cryptocurrencies and other digital methods to raise and move money.
The monitoring team recommended considering cryptocurrency addresses linked to sanctioned terrorist groups for inclusion in UN sanctions measures.
This reflects a broader concern that decentralised digital finance can create new challenges for tracking terrorist funding networks.
Red Fort security tightened for Independence Day
The latest UN assessment comes days before India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, with security around the Red Fort significantly increased.
Around 20,000 personnel from Delhi Police, paramilitary forces and the National Security Guard have been deployed for the celebrations.
Authorities are also using more than 1,000 CCTV cameras with facial-recognition and number-plate detection capabilities, along with anti-drone systems, snipers and specialised response teams.
The latest report adds international weight to the investigation into the Red Fort blast, particularly because the UN monitoring team has now identified AQIS as the organisation responsible.
It also highlights how AQIS has changed its operating model. Rather than relying only on large organised units, the group is described as increasingly working through small, decentralised cells with separate logistics and financial networks.
The difference between the latest UN assessment and the earlier reference to JeM also underlines the importance of distinguishing between preliminary intelligence assessments and later international findings.
At the same time, the UN's warnings on chemical and biological threats and cryptocurrency financing show that the concerns extend beyond the Red Fort case to the changing methods used by terrorist organisations.
Published: 13 Aug 2026, 10:08 am IST
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