NEW DELHI, Nov 13 — India’s government yesterday vowed to bring the “perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors” of a deadly car blast in the heart of the capital to justice and called it an act of terrorism.

The powerful blast on Monday killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 others, according to hospital officials.

It was the most significant security incident since April 22, when 26 mainly Hindu civilians were killed at the tourist site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, triggering clashes with Pakistan.

“The country has witnessed a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces, through a car explosion near the Red Fort”, a cabinet statement read, after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was the first confirmation that India is treating the blast as an act of terrorism.

The historic Red Fort in the crowded Old Delhi quarter of the city is one of India’s most well-known landmarks, and the site of the annual prime minister’s Independence Day speech.

The cabinet expressed “profound grief” over the loss of lives.

It did not give further details of who might have been behind the attack, but said India would maintain a policy of “zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms”.

It condemned what it called a “dastardly and cowardly act that has led to the loss of innocent lives”.