A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly car bomb attack that killed eight people and wounded 20 others in Delhi last week, authorities have said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated that the car used in the attack, which the government has described as a terrorist incident, was registered in the name of the arrested suspect. They have accused him of conspiring with the alleged suicide bomber. The suspect is reportedly a resident of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The explosion took place near a metro station close to the Red Fort, one of Delhi's most visited landmarks.
The agency has also seized another vehicle allegedly belonging to the suicide bomber for further examination and has interrogated 73 witnesses, including those who were injured during the blast.
The incident marks the first explosion in this heavily guarded city since 2011.
The attack occurred on Monday evening at 18:52 local time, when a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a busy traffic signal and detonated.
Home Minister Shah later confirmed that the explosion occurred in a white Hyundai i20. Images from the scene revealed the remains of a charred white car alongside other damaged vehicles, including an autorickshaw and cycle rickshaws.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterized it as a conspiracy and pledged that the perpetrators, their collaborators and their sponsors would face justice. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed that the news is extremely heartbreaking.
Police officials have indicated that they are investigating potential connections to the recent arrests of seven men in Indian-administered Kashmir, along with links to the seizure of 2,900kg of explosives discovered in a nearby Delhi suburb.
The Red Fort, with its rich history dating back to the 17th Century, is a major tourist attraction and serves as the backdrop for Indian prime ministers' annual Independence Day speeches.
