At least eight killed after car explodes near Delhi’s Red Fort

At least eight people have been killed and more injured after a car exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, authorities have said.

Delhi City police spokesperson, Sanjay Tyagi confirmed the deaths to the BBC, while the deputy fire chief said a further 19 people had been injured, according to AFP.

Police are investigating the cause of the explosion and “exploring all possibilities”, Mr Tyagi said.

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.

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, has been put on high alert, as has the Uttar Pradesh state which borders Delhi.

The blast happened near a metro station close to the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s highest-profile monuments.

The Mughal fortress, which is visited by thousands of tourists each year, was built in the 17th Century and is where Indian prime ministers give their Independence Day speeches every year.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the blast.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said in a statement the news was “extremely heartbreaking”.

The federal home minister Amit Shah said the blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car and teams from India’s National Security Guard, and National Investigation Agency are investigating, along with forensic experts.

“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,” he added.

The minister visited the site of the explosion and a nearby hospital.

Security is being stepped up at “sensitive religious sites, vulnerable districts and border areas” in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, according to senior police official Amitabh Yash following the blast in neighbouring Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh is home to famous sites such as the Taj Mahal and is a densely populated state.

One eyewitness described the aftermath of the blast as chaotic and confusing.

He was just a few hundred metres away from the spot when he heard a loud explosion.

“It felt like everything stopped for a few seconds before everyone started running in all directions,” he told the BBC.

He did not go near the site but could see mangled car parts on fire and locals trying to help the injured.