India confirms deadly Delhi car blast being treated as terror incident

"India has confirmed it is treating the explosion that killed 12 people outside Delhi's Red Fort on Monday as a terror incident perpetrated by anti-national forces. The statement by the cabinet, led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, confirmed mounting speculation that a terrorist attack was behind the blast that took place during peak time in one of the capital's busiest areas and outside one of India's major landmarks."

"The explosion, from a car in bumper-to-bumper traffic, threw bodies into the air and caused nearby vehicles to catch fire. By Wednesday the number of dead had risen to 12 after several people died from their injuries, while more than 30 others were wounded. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in Delhi for more than a decade."

"The cabinet statement did not give any further details on the nature of the terrorism behind the attack. However, earlier in the day police confirmed they had detained five people in the Pulwama district of the disputed region of Kashmir in connection with the attack. Though the link was not directly made by police, it came after they claimed to have uncovered an interstate and transnational terror cell allegedly connected to the Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operating in a state neighbouring Delhi."

An explosion from a car in bumper-to-bumper traffic outside Delhi's Red Fort killed 12 and wounded more than 30 during peak time in a busy area. Bodies were thrown into the air and nearby vehicles caught fire. The cabinet led by the prime minister labeled the blast a terror incident perpetrated by anti-national forces and condemned the loss of innocent lives. The national investigation agency is leading probes and police filed a case under the anti-terror law, granting broader powers for raids and arrests. Police detained five people in Pulwama and say they uncovered an interstate and transnational cell allegedly linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, seizing 2,900kg of explosives, chemicals, detonators and guns.

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