New Delhi: Investigators probing the Delhi suicide car bomb attack have uncovered a major terror plot involving the modification of drones into weaponised aerial devices and the construction of rockets ahead of the November 10 explosion near the Red Fort. According to officials, the white-collar terror module behind the attack had planned to deploy these advanced weapons as part of a larger offensive.
The revelation draws alarming parallels with the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, where drones were used extensively for widespread disruption and destruction.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) unearthed this threat after the arrest of a second terror conspirator linked to the suicide bomber Umar Un Nabi. Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, was arrested from Srinagar by an NIA team. Like the first accused, Amir Rashid Ali—taken into custody in Delhi—Danish is also a resident of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the NIA, Danish played a significant role in providing technical expertise to the module. He allegedly assisted in modifying drones for attack operations and was involved in attempts to build rockets before the deadly car blast. The agency described him as an active co-conspirator working alongside the suicide bomber and other members of the white-collar module. Investigators said multiple leads are being pursued to understand the full extent of the terror network.
Sources told NDTV that Danish attempted to develop high-powered drones capable of carrying heavy explosive payloads. These drones were reportedly fitted with large batteries and cameras, and Danish is believed to have prior experience in building small weaponised drones. The terror group had planned to fly such a drone over a crowded public area to cause maximum casualties, an attack pattern used by groups like Hamas and several factions involved in the Syrian conflict.
Globally, security agencies recognise the growing threat of drones being weaponised by terror groups. Many countries have scaled up their defensive capabilities based on their technological strengths. India, too, has been significantly expanding its anti-drone and drone-strike units to counter such emerging threats.