India: Car explodes in New Delhi, killing several people

Police confirmed there were fatalities from a car explosion near a metro station close to the Red Fort landmark.

Police say at least eight people were killed and more injured Monday in an explosion near the historic Red Fort in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

"A slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light, an explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged," New Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said.

"Some people have died, and some have been injured."

The fire service said the blast injured 19 people and triggered a fire that damaged several vehicles
parked nearby.

Cause of the explosion unknown

The cause of the explosion, near a metro station close to the historic landmark, which took place just before 7 p.m. (2:30 p.m. CET, 1:30 p.m. GMT) was not immediately clear. 

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account," Home Minister Amit Shah said. 

"All options will be investigated immediately, and we will present the results to the public."

The investigation is being conducted by India's National Investigation Agency, the federal agency for terror investigations.

Mumbai, India's financial hub, and Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state bordering Delhi, were placed under heightened security following the blast.

The Red Fort, built in 1648 under Mughal rule in Delhi's old quarter, is one of India's most famous landmarks. The prime minister delivers the Independence Day address from there, and it appears on the country’s largest banknote.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko