Investigators have revealed that the white-collar terror module involved in the Delhi suicide car bomb attack had plans to modify drones for weaponisation and manufacture rockets for use ahead of the November 10 strike near the Red Fort.
Such an attempt bears similarities to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, where drones were employed as the primary instruments of disruption and destruction.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) uncovered this significant threat following the arrest of a second terror suspect linked to the suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi.
Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish and a resident of J&K, was apprehended in Srinagar by an NIA team. He is associated with the first suspect, Amir Rashid Ali, who was arrested in Delhi the previous day.
Danish allegedly provided technical support for terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to manufacture rockets ahead of the deadly car bomb blast, the NIA said in a statement.
The suspect, from Anantnag district, acted as an active co-conspirator in the attack orchestrated by the white-collar terror module and its suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi, the NIA added, noting that it is examining all angles and pursuing multiple leads.
Sources said that Danish attempted to build powerful drones equipped with large batteries capable of carrying heavier explosives, along with cameras. He reportedly has prior experience in creating small weaponised drones.
The terror module had planned to deploy a weaponised drone over a crowded area to inflict maximum casualties, sources said, pointing out that groups like Hamas and various factions in war-torn Syria have used similar tactics.
In response to such threats, many countries have been preparing anti‑drone measures according to their technological capabilities. India, too, has been enhancing its drone surveillance and counter‑drone units on a large scale. The Delhi Bomb Blast, which shook the capital on November 10 near the historic Red Fort, highlighted the increasing sophistication of terror planning. The attack, carried out using a suicide car bomb, tragically killed 15 people. The NIA continues to investigate all aspects of the plot, ensuring that such high‑tech terror attempts are detected and neutralised in advance.
