Suspects Used Encrypted Swiss App to Plan Red Fort Blast, Police Reveal

Delhi police have revealed new details in the investigation into the deadly car blast near Red Fort on Monday evening, confirming that the suspects used an encrypted Swiss messaging app, Threema, to coordinate their activities. The three accused doctors, identified as Dr Umar Un Nabi, Dr Muzammil Ganaie, and Dr Shaheen Shahid, are linked to Faridabad’s Al Falah University and are believed to have been planning multiple serial blasts across the national capital.

According to investigators, the suspects communicated through a private Threema server, which allowed them to exchange sensitive documents, maps, and layouts related to the terror conspiracy. Unlike conventional messaging apps, Threema does not require a phone number or email for registration and provides end-to-end encryption, making it extremely difficult to trace users. The platform also offers the option to delete messages from both ends and does not retain metadata, complicating forensic analysis.

Authorities have described Dr Umar Un Nabi as the most radicalised member of the group, acting as a bridge between all three doctors. Umar is alleged to have switched off his phones and severed digital contacts after the arrests of other module members. Police suspect that Umar, who was driving the car that exploded near Red Fort, along with his team, used a red EcoSport car to transport and stockpile ammonium nitrate over time.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the group had conducted several reconnaissance missions in Delhi and had prepared at least 32 cars to carry out coordinated blasts near historic locations and key installations. While one car detonated in the Red Fort incident, authorities have already seized three additional vehicles.

The police are now probing whether the private Threema server used by the accused doctors was hosted in India or abroad and whether other members of the terror module had access to it. Investigators emphasize that this encrypted network played a critical role in the meticulous planning and coordination of the attacks, with coded messages and restricted material being shared exclusively within the closed network.

The death toll from the Red Fort blast has risen to 13, with several others still receiving treatment at LNJP Hospital. Authorities continue to work tirelessly to identify any remaining threats and prevent further attacks in the capital.

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