India has narrowly averted a catastrophic terror attack, preventing what could have been the deadliest series of bombings in global history. Security agencies have dismantled a sophisticated terror network planning to detonate 32 car bombs, each laden with approximately 100 kilograms of explosives, totaling a staggering 3,200 kilograms. This ‘white-collar’ terror module aimed to unleash unimaginable devastation, potentially claiming thousands of lives and traumatizing the nation.
The uncovered conspiracy revealed a chilling scale of premeditated violence. The plan involved repurposing 32 vehicles as mobile explosives delivery systems. The vast quantity of stockpiled explosives, primarily ammonium nitrate, was enough to cause widespread destruction, leveling entire neighborhoods. To grasp the severity, consider that a single blast, like the one at the Red Fort which caused fatalities and shattered windows kilometers away, pales in comparison to the coordinated impact of 32 such devices across the country.
Experts estimate that a single 3,200-kilogram ammonium nitrate bomb, equivalent to 2.5 tons of TNT, could obliterate everything within a 50-meter radius. The resulting shockwaves, traveling at incredible speeds, would cause instant, fatal internal injuries. In densely populated areas, such an explosion could result in hundreds of deaths, with buildings collapsing within 150 meters and windows shattering up to 400 meters away. Tremors would be felt for nearly a kilometer.
Historical attacks underscore the potential for devastation. The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which used 1,800 kilograms of explosives, killed 168 people and injured over 600. This foiled Indian plot, with 3,200 kilograms, could have conservatively resulted in at least 300 deaths and 550 injuries. Furthermore, the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, involving 12 explosions and around 1,500 kilograms of explosives, killed 257 and injured 1,400. A scaled-up version with 3,200 kilograms could have led to 500 deaths and 2,800 injuries, potentially making it the world’s most lethal terror incident.
Despite the significant arrests and seizures, a considerable threat remains. Authorities have recovered 2,900 kilograms of explosives, leaving 300 kilograms unaccounted for. Only three of the 32 planned vehicles have been traced. Locating the remaining 29 vehicles and the missing explosives is crucial to fully dismantling the terror network and preventing future attacks. The vigilance of India’s security forces remains paramount in safeguarding the nation against emerging threats.
