Unseen Video Shows Red Fort Bomber Calling Suicide Bombing “Misunderstood,” Investigators Probe Radicalisation Trail
An unreleased video of Dr Umar un Nabi — the key accused in the recent Red Fort blast — has surfaced, revealing his disturbing justification of suicide attacks. In the footage, Umar claims that what the world recognises as “suicide bombing” is actually a “martyrdom operation” in Islam, arguing that the concept is widely misunderstood.
The clip, recorded before the November 10 explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, shows the doctor-turned-extremist calmly explaining in fluent English that such acts are framed wrongly by society. He insists that martyrdom missions involve an individual knowingly embracing death for a religious cause rather than taking one’s life without purpose.
“People talk about suicide bombing as if it is an act of self-destruction,” Umar says in the video. “Martyrdom operation means a person sets out knowing he will die at a specific place at a specific time. This goes against the usual assumption of how and when a person dies. There are many contradictions raised against it, but the concept itself is misunderstood.”
Umar also adds that in his own situation, “the circumstance for martyrdom was not present,” hinting at a plan that investigators believe he had not yet executed.
Investigators Say Blast Was Accidental, Video Meant for Recruitment
According to officials, the Red Fort explosion — which killed at least 14 people and injured over 20 others — is suspected to have been an accidental detonation. They believe Umar was preparing for a larger suicide strike but triggered the improvised device prematurely.
The force of the blast tore through a crowded stretch in Old Delhi, shattering shop fronts and sending panic across one of the busiest pockets of the capital.
Investigators say the video was likely created for indoctrination and recruitment. They believe Umar was the most ideologically hardened member of the Faridabad-based “white collar” terror module linked to Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad. The cell reportedly consisted of 9–10 members — including five to six doctors — who allegedly exploited their professional roles at Al-Falah University to procure chemicals and explosive materials.
Who Is Dr Umar? A Quiet Doctor Turned Radical Operative
Dr Umar hailed from Koil village in Pulwama, Kashmir. Family members describe him as an introverted, academically inclined person who spent long hours reading. However, police sources say he exhibited a marked behavioural shift in recent months.
He stopped reporting to university duties after October 30 and began making regular trips between Faridabad and Delhi, frequently visiting mosques around the Ramleela Maidan and Sunehri Masjid areas. After police raids on November 9 unearthed nearly 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate from a Faridabad warehouse and led to the arrest of several of his associates, Umar disappeared.
Investigators believe he fled toward the Dhauj region, switching off five mobile phones to avoid tracking.
During the probe, officials also discovered that Umar and another arrested doctor, Muzammil Ganaie, had travelled to Turkey — a visit authorities suspect may have connected them to overseas handlers.
As the investigation deepens, agencies are examining whether the video was part of a larger radicalisation pipeline and how deeply embedded the module was in international terror networks.
