New Delhi: Investigators probing the deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort have recovered over 40 forensic samples from the blast site, including two cartridges one of which contained live ammunition and traces of two distinct types of explosives, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to preliminary findings by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), one of the explosive materials appears to be ammonium nitrate, a common but highly unstable compound often used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Earlier on Monday, authorities seized nearly 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate from a location in Faridabad during the interrogation of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, both affiliated with Al Falah University and now under arrest.
Officials further revealed that the second explosive found at the site seems to be far more potent than ammonium nitrate, though its precise chemical makeup will be confirmed only after a detailed forensic analysis. “The results of the laboratory tests will provide clarity on the exact nature and source of the materials,” one official said.
The FSL team, which discovered the cartridges during its meticulous inspection of the site, has been working around the clock since the incident. A special task unit has been formed to speed up the testing process and deliver a comprehensive report at the earliest.
The high-intensity blast, which tore through a slow-moving vehicle near the Red Fort traffic signal on Monday, claimed 12 lives and left several others injured. Investigators are now focused on understanding how the explosives were assembled and detonated, as part of the ongoing probe into what officials believe was a well-coordinated act of terror.