26/11-style attack plot with 200 IEDs? Delhi blast suspects planned multiple attacks

The terror module, allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), had been planning a coordinated series of bombings across Delhi and the National Capital Region for months.

26/11 blueprint reimagined for Delhi

According to intelligence sources, the group aimed to unleash a series of simultaneous attacks across iconic locations in the heart of the national capital—the Red Fort, India Gate, Constitution Club, and the Gauri Shankar Temple.

Preliminary investigations have also pointed to plans targeting crowded railway stations and shopping malls across India, echoing the multi-target assault strategy used during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, where gunmen and bombers struck at 12 locations, including the Taj Mahal Hotel and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Months of planning and a network in NCR

Investigations suggest that the Delhi conspiracy had been in motion since January, with the terrorists working to assemble nearly 200 powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The explosives were meant to be used in high-profile areas of Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad.

The operatives, according to sources, intended to trigger communal unrest by attacking religious places.

To evade detection, the group recruited several radicalised medical professionals from Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir—individuals who could move freely without arousing suspicion due to their professional background.

These doctors allegedly set up base in Faridabad, renting rooms in the Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga areas, where they quietly stockpiled explosives and other materials needed for the planned attacks.

'White-collar' front, deadly mission

Using their “white-collar” status, the suspects were able to blend into local communities.

Among those arrested are Dr Shaheen Saeed, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganale, and Dr Adeel Rather. Investigators believe that Dr Umar Mohammad, who died in the November 10 explosion near Red Fort, was the suicide bomber.

Sources have indicated that the suspects were not only trained in medicine but also in handling explosives and weapons.

Dr Saeed, who worked at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, was allegedly tasked with establishing a “women’s brigade” for Jaish-e-Mohammed.

She was arrested after police recovered an assault rifle and live ammunition from her car.

Three other doctors associated with Al-Falah University were also detained for questioning but are likely to be released after verification of their involvement.

The blast and its aftermath

CCTV footage from the evening of November 10 shows a Hyundai i20 car slowing down near Red Fort Metro Station before a powerful explosion tore through the vehicle, killing nine and injuring at least twenty people caught in the evening rush-hour traffic.

The blast, which sent shockwaves through the city, revealed the sheer scale of the planned terror network.

Subsequent raids in Faridabad and Gurugram led to the seizure of 2,900 kilograms of explosives, chemicals, and bomb-making components.

The cache was traced back to Dr Muzammil, who reportedly confessed that the group had initially planned to carry out the attack during Diwali, targeting large crowds, but postponed it due to logistical delays.

Terror web unravelled

Investigators now believe the Delhi module was part of a larger network operating under direct guidance from handlers across the border.

The aim was to recreate a coordinated urban terror siege, reminiscent of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to inflict maximum casualties and spark panic across multiple cities.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police Special Cell are jointly probing the case, focusing on financial transactions, digital communications, and links to Pakistan-based operatives.

Security has been intensified across Delhi’s major landmarks and transportation hubs in light of the revelations.

A grim reminder of 26/11

The foiled plot serves as a chilling reminder of India’s most devastating terror attack in 2008, when ten armed terrorists carried out coordinated shootings and bombings across Mumbai, killing 166 people and injuring hundreds.

The Delhi module’s intent to replicate that carnage highlights the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism and the evolving tactics used by extremist groups to infiltrate Indian cities.

As the investigation deepens, authorities believe more arrests are likely in the coming days.