Bengaluru. 5 suspected terrorists were arrested in Bengaluru by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for allegedly planning a terror attack in Karnataka.
The five suspects, identified as Suhail, Omar, Zahid, Mudasir, and Faisal, all residents of Bengaluru and aged between 25 and 35, had previously been arrested in 2017. They had spent 18 months in jail as part of their involvement in a murder case before being released in 2019.
The police are currently in pursuit of an additional suspect named Junaid, hailing from the RT Nagar area of Bengaluru. Junaid’s current whereabouts remain unknown, but police sources suggest that he may have settled abroad and is believed to be the mastermind behind the provision of arms and explosives to the five individuals who were taken into custody.
In a significant development, the CCB confiscated a cache of explosive materials from the suspects possession at the time of their arrest. Additionally, the individuals were found to be carrying firearms and daggers.
During the interrogation process, the arrested suspects revealed their communication with T. Nazeer, a known terrorism suspect presently incarcerated in Bengaluru Central Jail (Parapanna Agrahara). According to Bengaluru Police Commissioner Dayanand B., Nazeer played a role in radicalising the five individuals.
Moreover, the accused, along with another individual residing abroad, were implicated in a murder case dating back to 2017. The overseas contact allegedly supplied the group with weapons to carry out their intended acts of terror.
In their efforts to apprehend Junaid, the Bengaluru Police are collaborating closely with central agencies, aiming to track down the suspect and ensure public safety.