Indian authorities have arrested Amir Rashid Ali, the owner of the car that exploded near the Red Fort in New Delhi, killing 12 people and wounding 32. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Sunday that it had apprehended the 25-year-old resident of Indian-administered Kashmir, who is believed to have been an accomplice of Umar Un Nabi, a self-proclaimed "suicide bomber" behind the deadly attack.
According to investigators, Ali was involved in conspiring with Nabi to carry out a terror attack using explosives. The car that was used to transport the explosives was registered in Ali's name and was found near the site of the blast. Authorities say they have extensive evidence against him and are searching for more leads to identify potential co-conspirators.
The arrest comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet described the explosion as a "heinous terror incident, perpetrated by antinational forces." However, with Pakistan being a prime suspect in the background, authorities were cautious not to explicitly mention Islamabad, fearing it could escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Just last week, another blast occurred in Srinagar, where a cache of confiscated explosives detonated in a police station, killing nine people and injuring nearly 30. Kashmiri police stated that there was no involvement by armed groups in this incident, but they have recovered a massive cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives.
The ongoing violence in the region has raised concerns about national security, with tensions simmering between India and Pakistan over several years.
According to investigators, Ali was involved in conspiring with Nabi to carry out a terror attack using explosives. The car that was used to transport the explosives was registered in Ali's name and was found near the site of the blast. Authorities say they have extensive evidence against him and are searching for more leads to identify potential co-conspirators.
The arrest comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet described the explosion as a "heinous terror incident, perpetrated by antinational forces." However, with Pakistan being a prime suspect in the background, authorities were cautious not to explicitly mention Islamabad, fearing it could escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Just last week, another blast occurred in Srinagar, where a cache of confiscated explosives detonated in a police station, killing nine people and injuring nearly 30. Kashmiri police stated that there was no involvement by armed groups in this incident, but they have recovered a massive cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives.
The ongoing violence in the region has raised concerns about national security, with tensions simmering between India and Pakistan over several years.