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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the Red Fort bombing as a “terrorist attack” and lauded India’s “very professional” investigation into the deadly explosion that claimed 12 lives in Delhi earlier this week.

Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, Rubio said, “Clearly, it was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people," ANI reported.

Commending India’s approach, Rubio said the country “needs to be commended; they have been very measured, cautious, and very professional in how they're carrying out this investigation.” He added that the United States has offered to assist in the probe but expressed confidence in India’s capabilities. “They’re doing a very good job of carrying out an investigation,” he said. “When they have facts, they’ll release those facts. We’ve offered help, but I think they’re very capable in these investigations and don’t need our help.”

Rubio and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Canada. Following the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X , “Good meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Appreciate his condolences on the loss of lives in the blast in Delhi.”

Earlier, the Union Cabinet officially declared the car explosion near Red Fort a “terrorist attack,” calling it a “heinous act perpetrated by anti-national forces.” In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the Cabinet stated, “The investigation must be pursued with the utmost urgency and professionalism so that the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors are identified and brought to justice without delay.”

When asked about the possibility of tensions escalating between India and Pakistan, Rubio said the US is aware of the potential risks but praised New Delhi’s restraint. “India’s response has been very measured and cautious,” he said, tamping down speculation of regional tensions.

Jaishankar added that his talks with Rubio also covered “bilateral ties, trade, and supply chains,” along with discussions on the Ukraine conflict, Middle East developments, and the Indo-Pacific situation.

On November 10, a deadly car explosion ripped through the Red Fort complex in the national capital, killing 12 people and injuring several others, according to ANI report. Investigators are pursuing multiple leads pointing to a larger terror conspiracy involving the prime accused, Dr. Umar Un Nabi, and several associates.

Delhi Police are searching for a missing Brezza vehicle allegedly linked to Dr. Umar, while Faridabad Police have seized a red Ford EcoSport (DL 10 CK 0458) connected to the case. The vehicle was found parked near Khandawali village.

Intelligence agencies have indicated that Umar and his associates were preparing multiple vehicles, including an i20 and another EcoSport, to carry out coordinated blasts across multiple cities. Sources said at least eight suspects were planning simultaneous explosions, each pair assigned to a specific target location.

A man identified as Faheem, a relative of Umar, has been detained in Faridabad for allegedly parking one of the vehicles used in the attack. Separately, a medical student, Mohammad Arif, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Kanpur for his suspected links with Dr. Shaheen Saeed, another alleged associate.

A joint team of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Delhi Police on Thursday recovered human remains from the New Lajpat Rai Market area near the blast site. Forensic testing has since confirmed that the prime suspect, Dr. Umar Un Nabi, was killed in the explosion, after DNA samples matched those of his mother.

Investigators have also recovered diaries belonging to Umar and Dr. Muzammil, containing entries from November 8–12 and the names of about 25 individuals, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir and Faridabad.

Authorities believe the notes could shed light on a wider terror network and the preparation timeline leading up to the Red Fort blast.