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

A Reddit post shared approximately two hours before a deadly car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station on November 10, 2025, has gone viral, with the anonymous user describing an unusually heavy police and army presence around the historic site, prompting speculation about whether authorities had prior intelligence of a threat. The post, titled "Is something going on in Delhi?", was uploaded around 4:00 PM IST by a self-identified Class 12 student who recounted witnessing "police and army and media like on the Red Fort on the metro everywhere" while commuting home from school.

"Not even kidding, when I was travelling in the metro, I saw more army than ever," the user wrote, capturing the palpable tension in Old Delhi's crowded lanes. The blast, which occurred at 6:52 PM near Gate No. 1, killed at least 13 people and injured over 20, involving a Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 laden with ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives, according to preliminary forensic findings. The timing of the post—garnering nearly 2,000 upvotes on Reddit and widespread shares on X—has fuelled online discussions, with users dubbing the poster an unwitting "prophet" for pinpointing the exact location hours in advance.

The post's virality intensified on social media platforms, where netizens marvelled at its eerie prescience amid reports of heightened security operations in the area earlier that day. On X, users like @Mahaveer_VJ shared screenshots, speculating that Delhi Police were conducting combing exercises based on intercepted intelligence, potentially linked to a busted terror module in nearby Faridabad, where 2,900 kg of explosives were seized just hours prior.

Comments ranged from "Bro tried to warn us all (unknowingly)" on Reddit to theories on X positing the blast as a "panic detonation" after attackers realised their larger plot—allegedly involving multiple strikes and even biological elements like poisoning temple prasadam in Gujarat—had been compromised. Eyewitness accounts corroborated the student's observation, with commuters noting barricades and patrols near Chandni Chowk and Kashmere Gate metros, though official statements have not confirmed any direct connection between the security buildup and the incident. This grassroots alert highlights the role of social media in real-time crisis reporting, amplifying public awareness while underscoring the challenges of distinguishing rumour from fact in fast-evolving events.

The explosion's aftermath saw immediate chaos in the heritage-rich Old Delhi vicinity, a UNESCO World Heritage zone drawing millions annually for its Mughal architecture and vibrant bazaars, now scarred by mangled vehicles and shattered glass from the high-intensity detonation at a traffic signal. Among the victims were traders like 22-year-old Nauman from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, killed while sourcing goods, and survivors such as 28-year-old Ankush Sharma, who suffered 80% burns after being flung onto a nearby car. Hospitals like LNJP and Guru Teg Bahadur overflowed with grieving families, evoking scenes of collective trauma reminiscent of the 2008 serial blasts. The Delhi Metro's Lal Qila station remains shuttered, with ripple effects including nationwide high alerts in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, where patrols have intensified at sensitive sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed promptly, and international bodies like the U.S. Embassy issued advisories for Americans to avoid crowds, reflecting global concern over India's urban security landscape.

Also Read: Delhi Accident: Boy, 5, Killed After Another Child Starts Parked E-Rickshaw in Sangam Vihar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the media late on November 10, assuring a comprehensive probe into "all possible angles" without ruling out terrorism, as teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Security Guard (NSG), and Delhi Police's Special Cell comb the site for residues and CCTV footage. An FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act has been registered, with over 13 suspects detained, including the car's prior owners and associates of a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked "white-collar" module involving medical professionals from Jammu and Kashmir. Shah's high-level meeting on November 11 with top security brass aims to dissect potential intelligence lapses, especially given the Faridabad raid's proximity—mere kilometres and hours away—suggesting the blast may have been a desperate improvisation. While unverified claims of Lashkar-e-Taiba responsibility circulate online, authorities urge the public to rely on verified channels, emphasising that the Reddit post, though prescient, does not alter the ongoing multi-agency scrutiny focused on dismantling cross-border networks infiltrating urban centres.

Also Read: Israel’s Military Chief Demands Systemic Probe into October 7 Hamas Attack Failures