2 weeks ago
UN Security Council report attributes Red Fort blast to AQIS
In November 2025, a big explosion happened near the Red Fort, a famous old fort in Delhi, India.
A car bomb went off and sadly killed 11 people and hurt more than 20 others.
Police in India investigated the attack and linked it to a group connected to al-Qaeda.
A special team from the United Nations studied the attack and officially agreed that a group called Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, or AQIS, did it.
The UN team said the group's leaders live in Kabul and use Afghan identity documents.
It also said the group may try to start new cells in Bangladesh.
The UN warned that these groups still want to make dangerous poisons and are increasingly using digital money called cryptocurrency.
The UN suggested adding digital currency addresses to its sanctions list to track this.
Terrorists are also using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to learn how to make bombs.
Around 20,000 police and soldiers guarded the Red Fort before Independence Day, and a court will decide on the charges against the suspects on August 27.
The UN Security Council's 38th sanctions monitoring report officially attributed the November 10, 2025 car bomb blast near Delhi's Red Fort to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
The explosion ripped through a moving Hyundai i20 around 7 pm, killing 11 people (two outlets report 15) and injuring more than two dozen.
The NIA's roughly 7,500-page chargesheet names 10-11 accused linked to AQIS affiliate Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH); Umar un-Nabi (also called Umar Mohammad), killed in the blast, is the suspected suicide bomber.
AQIS leaders reportedly remain in Kabul operating with Afghan national identity documents, and the report flags concern the group may try to establish cells in Bangladesh.
The UN warned that Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates retain interest in chemical and biological weapons, that terror groups increasingly use AI tools like ChatGPT, and recommended adding a 'digital currency address' field to UN sanctions lists.
- Who
- Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), per the UN Security Council's 38th report; Indian investigators identified Umar un-Nabi (also called Umar Mohammad), who died in the blast, as the suspected suicide bomber.
- What
- A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near the Red Fort, killing 11 people (two outlets report 15) and injuring more than two dozen; the UN officially attributed the attack to AQIS, though a UN Member State had earlier linked it to Jaish-i-Mohammed (JiM).
- Where
- Near the Red Fort, New Delhi, India; AQIS leaders reportedly remain based in Kabul, Afghanistan.
- When
- November 10, 2025, around 7 pm; the NIA filed its chargesheet in May, the UNSC's 38th report was published this week, and the Rouse Avenue Court is set to consider the chargesheet on August 27.
- Why
- The UN assessed that AQIS, operating through decentralised small cells, carried out the attack; the report also flagged continued interest in chemical and biological weapons, the use of AI tools, and terrorist use of cryptocurrency.
Earlier UN Member State assessment
UNSC Monitoring Team's 38th report
Attribution of the Red Fort blast
Earlier UN Member State assessment
A UN Member State had earlier linked the November 2025 Red Fort attack, which it said killed 11 people, to Jaish-i-Mohammed (JiM), a group it said claimed a series of attacks.
UNSC Monitoring Team's 38th report
The UNSC Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team's 38th report officially attributes the attack to AQIS, describing it as a regional terrorist entity working through decentralised, small, scattered cells.
Death toll reporting
Earlier UN Member State assessment
Most outlets and the NIA report that 11 people were killed in the blast.
UNSC Monitoring Team's 38th report
Two outlets report that the blast killed 15 people.
Key facts
- Deaths
- 11 killed (two outlets report 15)
- Injured
- More than two dozen injured
- Blast date and time
- November 10, 2025, around 7 pm
- Location
- Near the Red Fort, New Delhi, India
- Attribution
- Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), per the UNSC 38th report; earlier linked by a UN Member State to Jaish-i-Mohammed
- Primary suspect
- Umar un-Nabi / Umar Mohammad (killed in the blast; former assistant professor of medicine at Al-Falah University, Faridabad)
- NIA chargesheet
- Around 7,500 pages; 10-11 accused linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH); Rouse Avenue Court hearing on August 27
- Independence Day security
- Around 20,000 personnel and more than 1,000 CCTV cameras deployed around the Red Fort
Quotes
United Nations Security Council Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team
UNSC Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, reporting on terrorist activity
“"Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS, not listed) continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity; it established logistics and financial networks, working in decentralised, small, scattered cells instead of large units. The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to AQIS."”
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“"Al-Qaida and ISIL (Da’esh) have shown a sustained interest over many years in developing chemical and biological weapons but so far have failed to overcome the associated technical challenges. Instructions on how to develop such weapons have been shared widely within online terrorist communities."”
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Sources
Red Fort blast: UNSC report links Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent to November 2025 car bomb explosion
Red Fort Attack ‘Officially Attributed’ to Al-Qaeda’s AQIS: UNSC Report
Delhi Red Fort blast linked to Al-Qaeda’s South Asia branch AQIS, flags UN report
UNSC Report Links Al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent to November 2025 Red Fort Blast
UN Security Council body confirms Al-Qaeda involvement behind Red Fort blast that killed 11
Red Fort blast 2025 'officially attributed' to Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent, says UNSC: what did its report reveal?
Al-Qaeda Offshoot Behind Delhi's Red Fort Blast That Killed 15: UN Report
UN links Delhi's Red Fort blast that killed 11 to AL Qaida's AQIS, warns of group's growing regional reach
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