DNA from the blast site was matched to him, according to forensic tests.

Red Fort Blast Investigation Deepens: ‘Shoe Bomber’ Theory Gains Momentum

In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another Kashmiri suspect in the Red Fort car bombing case, amid mounting evidence that Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Dr. Umar un Nabi may have carried out the attack in a “shoe-bomber” style. Sources tell investigators that the terror module was even preparing Hamas-style drone attacks, where small but powerful bombs could have been carried by drones.

According to reports, forensic teams recovered a shoe from beneath the driver’s seat, close to the right front tyre, inside the Hyundai i20 used in the November 10 blast.

Further forensic tests detected traces of the volatile explosive TATP (“Mother of Satan”) on both the tyre and the shoe — reinforcing the suspicion that the bomber concealed an initiation mechanism in his footwear. Investigators also report that the device used in the blast was a mixture of “TATP and ammonium nitrate”, suggesting a high level of planning and sophistication.

Probing teams say evidence found under the car’s rear seat points to even more explosive material, lending weight to the theory that this was no simple attack.Financially, agencies have traced a fund trail of “INR 20 lakh”, which was routed to the terror module through “Dr Shaheen” and allegedly financed via a hawala network linked to Jaish. 

The NIA has also identified the blast as a “suicide bombing using a vehicle-borne IED”, confirming that the deceased driver was indeed Dr. Umar un Nabi. DNA from the blast site was matched to him, according to forensic tests.

Investigators draw chilling parallels to the 2001 Richard Reid “shoe bomber” case, suggesting Umar may have used a comparable method to trigger the bomb from within his shoe. Meanwhile, the NIA says the arrested Kashmiri aide, “Amir Rashid Ali”, helped Umar procure the car and provided logistical support.

This evolving “shoe-bomber” narrative underscores a stark reality: terror rings are innovating — combining classic suicide tactics with novel trigger mechanisms. For policy-makers, security agencies, and the public, the Red Fort explosion is not just a tragic event — it may be a harbinger of more sophisticated terror modules to come.