New Delhi: The 38th report of the United Nations Security Council's analytical support and monitoring team has formally attributed the November 2025 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
The report, published this week, states that AQIS has transformed from a breakaway group to a regional terrorist organization, establishing logistical and financial networks and operating through small, decentralized cells rather than large groups.
The report states that the November 10, 2025, attack on the Red Fort in Delhi has been officially attributed to AQIS. The monitoring team also expressed concern that AQIS is attempting to use Bangladesh to establish its cells there.
This conclusion differs from the UN's previous report. The Security Council's 37th report, citing a member state, stated that Jaish-e-Mohammed was responsible for several attacks and had links to the Red Fort blast, which killed 11 people.
The blast near the Red Fort occurred around 7 pm when a moving Honda i20 car exploded. According to investigators, the car was being driven by suspected suicide bomber Omar Nabi, who was also killed in the blast. Eleven people were killed and over two dozen injured.
During the same period, authorities in Faridabad, Haryana, about 50 kilometers from Delhi, seized approximately 2,900 kilograms of explosives, including ammonium nitrate.
According to the report, investigators arrested two other suspected members of the module, Dr. Mazmal Shakeel and Dr. Adil Rather, and recovered a cache of explosives. Subsequent reports emerged that the suspected attacker had prematurely detonated the device in a panic.
The Security Council report also expressed concern over attempts by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh)-affiliated groups to acquire unconventional weapons.
The report states that Al-Qaeda and Daesh have been interested in developing chemical and biological weapons for several years but have yet to overcome the associated technical challenges. Terrorists have also shared instructions on making such weapons in online communities.
The report references material published in Daesh's English magazine "Invade" in February, which included instructions on making botulinum toxin and cyanide. It says that ISIS-K has shown particular interest in ricin toxin and has issued instructions on how to make it over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has set a date of August 27 to take notice of the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) charge sheet in the Red Fort blast case.
The NIA has filed a charge sheet spanning approximately 7,500 pages against 11 accused in the case. The complaint mentions over 580 witnesses.