In a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the deadly car bomb explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a resident of Faridabad, Haryana, for allegedly providing shelter to the suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi, just hours before the terrorist attack on November 10.
The accused has been identified as Soyab, a resident of Dhauj village in Faridabad district. With this arrest, the total number of individuals taken into custody in connection with the case has risen to seven. The blast, which occurred inside a moving Hyundai i20 car, claimed multiple lives and left several others injured, marking one of the most severe terrorist incidents in the national capital in recent years.According to the NIA, the arrested individual "not only harboured Umar but also extended logistical support to facilitate the terrorist's movements ahead of the attack."
"The development follows the earlier arrest of six key aides linked to Umar during the course of the investigation into case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI," the agency stated. Sources within the NIA said the latest arrest has considerably strengthened the agency’s understanding of the broader operational network that supported the bombing.
The agency is actively pursuing several leads and carrying out searches in multiple states in coordination with local police forces to locate and apprehend any additional individuals linked to the conspiracy.
Officials emphasised that efforts are continuing round the clock to fully uncover and dismantle the entire terrorist module responsible for planning and executing the attack.
Earlier this month, the NIA had arrested six primary suspects in the case. On November 20, four individuals—Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai from Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather from Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay from Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir)—were taken into custody in Srinagar on production warrants issued by the District Sessions Judge, Patiala House Courts, Delhi. All four are believed to have played critical roles in the terror attack that killed several innocent civilians and injured many others.
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Prior to that, the NIA had arrested two more accused: Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the Hyundai i20 used in the blast was registered, and Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, who allegedly provided technical assistance to the main perpetrator. The seventh accused, Soyab, will now be confronted with the six individuals arrested earlier as part of the ongoing interrogation process.
The NIA, which was handed the case by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs shortly after the incident, is working in close collaboration with police forces from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other agencies to trace and neutralise every member of the terrorist module behind the attack.
The explosion, which took place around 7 p.m. on November 10, killed a total of 15 people and injured more than two dozen others. The blast was triggered inside a moving Hyundai i20 car driven by the alleged suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi.
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The NIA assumed control of the investigation from Delhi Police the very next day and immediately launched an extensive search and evidence-collection operation. Investigators have revealed that Amir Rashid Ali had travelled to Delhi specifically to help procure the vehicle, which was later converted into a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Through forensic examination, the NIA has conclusively identified the deceased driver of the VBIED as Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir who was working as an Assistant Professor in the General Medicine Department at Al Falah University in Faridabad.
The agency has also seized another vehicle owned by Umar Un Nabi, which is currently undergoing detailed forensic examination for additional evidence. So far, the NIA has recorded statements of 73 witnesses, including several victims who were injured in the blast that sent shockwaves across the national capital.
Operating in close coordination with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and other sister agencies, the NIA continues its multi-state investigation to bring all those involved in the heinous attack to justice.
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