Three people linked to Al-Qaeda were arrested in Lucknow on Sunday, making it the country’s third major terror cell busted in a year. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested nine Al-Qaeda terrorists in West Bengal and Kerala in September of last year. Terrorists were planning attacks in several parts of the country, including the National Capital Region, according to the agency (NCR).
Three people linked to Al-Qaeda were arrested in Lucknow on Sunday, making it the country’s third major terror cell busted in a year. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested nine Al-Qaeda terrorists in West Bengal and Kerala in September of last year. Terrorists were planning attacks in several parts of the country, including the National Capital Region, according to the agency (NCR).
According to the investigators, these men were radicalised on social media by Al-Qaeda terrorists and were inspired to carry out attacks in multiple locations across India.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) recovered incriminating material, including two semi-prepared IED-based pressure cooker bombs and explosive materials, in the Lucknow arrest as well.
Minhaz Ahmed (30) and Maseeruddin (50) were arrested in Lucknow and were members of the Al Qaeda-linked Ansar Ghazwatul Hind. Ahmed’s father, in fact, owns and operates a motor workshop in Lucknow’s Dubagga neighbourhood.
According to Uttar Pradesh Police, these men were in contact with their handler Umar Halmandi, the head of Al-Uttar Qaeda’s Pradesh module. “They were planning to unleash terror activities before August 15 (Independence Day) in different cities of the state, including Lucknow,” said Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. According to Kumar, the men were planning explosions, including the use of human bombs.
After the arrest of two Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Lucknow on Sunday, the Bihar Police issued an alert in all districts and railway stations.
