Car explodes near historic Red Fort in India

New Delhi — A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital killed eight people on Monday and injured at least 19 others, New Delhi police said.

The explosion, which caused a fire that damaged several vehicles parked nearby, occurred near one of the doors of the Red Fort subway station, firefighters said. The cause is being investigated.

Om Prakash Gupta, a witness who lives near the scene, said he was at home when he heard a loud explosion. “I ran outside with my children and saw several vehicles on fire, with body parts everywhere,” he told The News. He said he saw a body on the windshield of a car.

A taxi driver, who identified himself simply as Shahrukh, said he heard a loud explosion. “I got out of the car and started running with others down the road,” he said.

The Red Fort, former imperial palace, is a major tourist attraction. Images from local media showed damaged vehicles and a police cordon at the scene.

City police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi told the AP that at least eight people were killed and several others were injured. “We are investigating the cause of the explosion,” he said. The injured are being treated at a local government hospital.

Images from the scene showed some broken glass and pieces of destroyed vehicles, while columns of fire came from the burning cars.

Home Minister Amit Shah told local media that a Hyundai i20 car exploded near a traffic light near the Red Fort. He said CCTV footage from cameras in the area will form part of the investigation.

“We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking into account all possibilities,” Shah said. “All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on social media site

The 17th century Red Fort monument is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in India. Located six kilometers (3.7 mi) from Parliament, it is where Indian prime ministers deliver their annual Independence Day speeches on August 15.

The investigation is being conducted by the National Investigation Agency, India’s federal terrorism investigation agency, and other agencies.