India is investigating an explosion in New Delhi as a terrorist attack
The prime minister has threatened to bring to justice those responsible for the attack, in which 13 people have died.
BarcelonaIndian police are investigating a car explosion this Monday in New Delhi as a possible suicide attack. This is how the local news agency ANI reported, citing government sources, after authorities activated an "anti-terrorism" law on Tuesday.
The explosion took place on Monday around 6 p.m. (local time) near the historic and tourist site Fort Roig and left 13 dead, according to the toll released by authorities this morning, and another 20 people injured. It is the first incident of this kind to occur in the Indian capital—home to more than 30 million people—since 2011.
President Narendra Modi expressed his dismay at the incident and threatened the perpetrators of the attack, saying they would have to answer for the consequences of their actions. "Today I came to Bhutan with a very heavy heart," the leader said from Thimphu, the capital of the neighboring Himalayan nation, where he is visiting. "The horrific incident that occurred in Delhi last night has deeply disturbed the entire world. Our agencies will get to the bottom of this conspiracy. The conspirators behind it will not escape. All those responsible will be brought to justice," he said.
The investigation is still in the preliminary stage, but Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia explained that the case has been registered under the so-called Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act, which is used to investigate and prosecute acts related to terrorism and threats of terrorism.
Fort Roig, the building from which the Prime Minister addresses the nation every August 15 to commemorate India's independence, was closed to the public on Tuesday and will remain so until Thursday by order of the authorities. The metro station of the same name and the streets around this tourist attraction, which dates back to the Mughal era, were also deserted this morning. The only presence in the area was that of forensic technicians searching the site of the explosion, which is cordoned off to prevent pedestrians from entering.
For now, the police are searching for the owner of a car that was driving slowly and stopped at a traffic light before exploding. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh maintains that the agencies are conducting a swift and thorough investigation and that the findings will be made public shortly.
Suicide bombing in Islamabad
Another attack occurred this morning outside a courthouse in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that it was a suicide bombing that left at least 12 dead and 27 wounded. The incident took place around 12:40 p.m. (local time) outside the district courthouse in the G-11 sector of the city. The attacker reportedly tried to enter the courthouse during rush hour, but when he realized he couldn't get in with explosives, he changed his target and attacked a police van that was trying to stop him, according to Naqvi. "Our priority is to identify him," he added. Sources from the EFE news agency indicate that the Pakistani Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan may be involved in the attack, although neither they nor any other group has claimed responsibility so far.
