Suspect detonated car bomb in panic after Faridabad terror module bust.

The deadly car explosion that killed nine people near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening is being treated as a fidayeen-style terror attack, according to top intelligence sources. The prime suspect, Dr. Mohammad Umar, is believed to have executed the attack in a state of panic after authorities busted a wider "white collar" terror network in Faridabad.

The incident has placed the national capital on high alert, with Delhi Police registering a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.

Sources claim Dr. Umar, a doctor from Pulwama, was a key member of the Faridabad terror module, which included several other educated professionals. He allegedly panicked after the arrest of his associate, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, last week. Believing his capture was imminent, Umar allegedly chose to carry out a suicide attack.

The blast occurred at 6:52 p.m. when an explosives-laden Hyundai i20, which had stopped at a traffic signal near Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, detonated. The explosion was so powerful it engulfed nearby vehicles in flames and injured over 20 people.

Investigators are working to formally identify a charred body recovered from the driver's seat, which is suspected to be that of Dr. Umar. CCTV footage reportedly showed him in the vehicle hours before the blast.

The investigation has revealed the car's complex ownership trail, designed to mask its final user. The vehicle was traced back to Tariq, another Pulwama resident linked to the module, who is now in custody. The car had reportedly changed hands multiple times, involving a used car dealer in Faridabad.

This Delhi terror attack comes just days after the Faridabad module was dismantled, in an operation that recovered a massive 2,900 kg of IED-making materials, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate (ANFO), assault rifles, and timers.