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 was registered in the arrested suspect's name. The agency has accused him of conspiring with the alleged suicide bomber, who has been identified as a resident of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The explosion occurred near a metro station close to the Red Fort, one of Delhi's most significant landmarks. Authorities indicated that they are examining another vehicle believed to belong to the suicide bomber, and to date, they have interrogated 73 witnesses, including individuals injured in the blast.
The explosion outside the historic fort marked the first such incident in the heavily guarded city since 2011. The blast happened on a Monday evening while a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a busy traffic signal before exploding.
Footage shows the charred remains of a white Hyundai i20, which Home Minister Shah confirmed was involved in the explosion. The attack has been described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'conspiracy,' with the government pledging to bring those responsible to justice.
The opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, expressed his heartbreak at the news. Investigations are ongoing, and police are exploring potential connections to the recent arrests of seven men in Kashmir, as well as links to the seizure of 2,900kg of explosives from a suburb in Delhi.
The Red Fort is a popular tourist attraction and a historic site used for annual Independence Day speeches by Indian prime ministers.
