Getty ImagesA deadly car blast in a busy area of India’s capital city Delhi was a “terror incident”, the country’s government has said.
At least eight people were killed and 20 more injured in the explosion near the city’s historic Red Fort on Monday.
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet condemned the attack at a security meeting late on Wednesday, saying it was a cowardly act carried out by anti-national forces.
Authorities have not yet named anyone or made any arrests in connection with the explosion.
In Wednesday’s resolution, the cabinet said: “The country has witnessed a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces, through a car explosion.
“The cabinet directs that the investigation into the incident be pursued with the utmost urgency and professionalism so that the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay.”
The cabinet also said it “unequivocally condemns this dastardly and cowardly act that has led to the loss of innocent lives”.
India has an “unwavering commitment” to a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism, it added.
The explosion happened near a metro station close to the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most high-profile landmarks.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters the incident happened at around 18:52 local time (13:52 GMT), when a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light before it exploded, damaging nearby vehicles.
A police spokesperson told the BBC that the explosion came from a Hyundai i20 car that was moving and carrying three people at the time, a police spokesman told the BBC.
As news of the explosion broke, Delhi police declared a high alert, with neighbouring states quickly following suit, including the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which is home to famous sites like the Taj Mahal and is a densely populated region.
Police, forensic experts, and security teams are investigating the explosion, a minister said on Monday after the incident.
“We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public,” home minister Amit Shah said.
Modi sent his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the blast. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said the news was “extremely heartbreaking”.
The Red Fort was built in the the 17th Century and is visited by thousands of tourists daily. Indian prime ministers give their annual Independence Day speeches at the site.
