No splinters, no crater, no RDX traces at blast site have investigators baffled

The powerful explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Monday evening has left investigators grappling with unanswered questions.

The blast, which tore through the crowded area, sparked panic across the national capital and triggered a massive security lockdown. Teams from the Delhi Police, the National Security Guard (NSG) and forensic experts rushed to the site as the area was cordoned off for investigation.

Early findings have left officials puzzled. No splinters were found at the scene and no crater was formed -- indicators typically present in conventional bomb blasts. Over 15 vehicles were damaged, but the absence of a foul smell or traces of RDX has further deepened the mystery.

“There seems to have been more than one person in the car, which rules out the possibility of a fidayeen (suicide) attack,” a top Delhi Police source said.

Another source said it appeared that the car’s occupants were transporting some explosive material that might have accidentally detonated. However, traces of blood found as far as 200 metres from the site underscore the intensity of the explosion.

Experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), after a preliminary inspection, suggested the damage pattern pointed to the use of high-grade explosives.

“Just by observing the blast radius, it appears that some high-grade explosives were involved,” an FSL source told The Tribune, adding that their team recovered no explosive material from the spot.

The FSL source also confirmed that the NSG would conduct a detailed examination of all seized material, including molten vehicle parts, plastic debris and biological samples containing traces of blood.

Meanwhile, top Delhi Police officials said they were probing possible links between the Red Fort explosion and a major recovery in Faridabad. In that case, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had seized 350 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, three magazines, 20 timers, a walkie-talkie set and ammunition from a rented accommodation at Dhauj village. A doctor from Jammu and Kashmir was arrested in connection with the seizure.

As the probe widens, investigators are trying to determine whether the Red Fort blast and the Faridabad haul are connected or separate incidents. For now, the capital remains on high alert as forensic teams continue to analyse the mysterious explosion.