Who Was Dr Umar Mohammad, The Doctor Turned Suspected Delhi Suicide Bomber?

Dr Umar Mohammad, a 36-year-old doctor from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as the prime suspect in the deadly car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station on November 10, 2025, which killed at least 13 people and injured over 20 others, with investigators believing he executed a fidayeen-style suicide attack in a panic following the arrest of his associates in a major terror module bust. Born on February 24, 1989, Umar was employed as a faculty member at Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad, Haryana, where he allegedly operated as a key operative in a sophisticated "white-collar" terror network linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The blast, occurring at 6:52 PM near Gate No. 1—a bustling heritage hub teeming with evening commuters and tourists—originated from a Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 packed with ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives and a detonator, engulfing multiple vehicles in flames and scattering shrapnel across Old Delhi's crowded lanes. CCTV footage captured Umar, masked and alone, driving the vehicle from Faridabad via the Badarpur border, parking it near Sunehri Masjid for over three hours (3:19 PM to 6:30 PM) without exiting, before heading toward central Delhi, where it detonated at a traffic signal. Authorities suspect he triggered the device prematurely upon learning of the module's compromise, averting what could have been a serial bombing campaign.

Umar's role in the network came to light hours before the blast, when Haryana Police raided a Faridabad hideout on November 9-10, seizing 2,900 kg of explosives and arresting two fellow doctors: Dr Mujammil Shakeel (from Anantnag) and Dr Adil Rather (Adeel Ahmad Rather, a former senior resident at Government Medical College, Anantnag), both close aides of Umar. Described as a "white-collar" operation exploiting professional covers, the module—allegedly directed by JeM handlers—procured and stockpiled materials for urban strikes, with the doctors facilitating logistics under the guise of medical routines.

In a desperate bid to disrupt the probe, Umar is believed to have improvised the attack, planning it hastily with two unnamed associates; forensic teams are analysing wreckage DNA to confirm his death inside the vehicle, while his mother, Shameema Bano, and brothers, Ashiq Ahmed and Zahoor Ahmed, were detained in Pulwama for questioning.

The car's ownership trail further implicates the network: originally belonging to Mohammad Salman (detained in Gurugram), it passed through Nadeem, used-car dealer Royal Car Zone in Faridabad Sector 37, plumber Aamir Rashid Mir (27, from Pulwama, arrested in Pampore), and security guard Tariq Ahmed Malik (44, from Pulwama, also arrested), before reaching Umar around October 29. At least 13 others, including these handlers, are under interrogation by Delhi Police, NIA, and J&K forces.

The investigation, registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act, has expanded into a multi-state dragnet involving the Intelligence Bureau, NSG, Uttar Pradesh ATS, Haryana Police, and Gujarat Police, probing links to broader JeM plots, including potential temple poisonings and market IEDs. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting on November 11 with top brass, including IB Chief and Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, to review intelligence lapses, as the blast's proximity to the Faridabad raid—just 50 km away—raises alarms over radicalisation in professional circles.

High alerts persist across Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with enhanced checks at metros, airports, and heritage sites; the Red Fort itself remains closed until November 13 for forensics, disrupting preparations for a major UNESCO heritage session next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed condolences, vowing justice, while the U.S. Embassy issued travel advisories, monitoring impacts on citizens. This incident, evoking the 2008 serial blasts, highlights evolving threats from "sleeper cells" in urban India, underscoring the need for vigilant counter-radicalisation in sensitive sectors like healthcare.

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As raids continue—including at Al-Falah University in Faridabad for DNA sampling and digital trails—the focus sharpens on dismantling JeM's infiltration networks, with unverified social media images of Umar circulating widely, fuelling public outrage and calls for stricter border monitoring. Among the victims was 22-year-old trader Nauman from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli, killed while buying goods, alongside survivors like burn victim Ankush Sharma (80% injuries), whose stories amplify the human cost in a city of 30 million. While the probe yields daily breakthroughs, experts warn of copycat risks, urging AI-enhanced surveillance and community outreach to fortify resilience against such "low-tech, high-impact" assaults in India's megacities.

Also Read: Viral Reddit Post: Student Noted Heavy Police Presence Hours Before Delhi Red Fort Blast