Why Terrorists Are Turning to Ammonium Nitrate

Days before the car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station, police had already uncovered a massive cache of explosives in Faridabad. Security agencies seized nearly 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate from rented premises, raising alarm about a possible terror conspiracy in the capital.
Ammonium nitrate, widely used as fertilizer, becomes a powerful explosive when mixed with fuel oil. Its easy availability compared to military‑grade materials like RDX has made it the weapon of choice for terror groups. Experts warn that caches of this size can be devastating if deployed in crowded urban areas, capable of shattering buildings and causing mass casualties. The Faridabad recovery highlights the urgent need for tighter monitoring of chemical supply chains and stronger intelligence coordination. For Delhi, it is a stark reminder that ammonium nitrate has effectively become the “new RDX” in the hands of terror networks.