ISIS-inspired group was ready to launch series of attacks on New Year’s eve

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested 10 suspects planning to launch a string of terror attacks at various public places in north India. The suspects were arrested after conducting hours of raids in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh said the country’s premier investigation agency.

The suspects were reportedly planning to attack the police headquarters in Delhi and various public places on Republic Day said a report in NDTV. It has now been busted following the arrests of the 10 suspects among whom is the mastermind of ‘Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam’ a cleric from New Delhi.

“The gang leader of the module is called Mufti Sohail who stays in Delhi and is a native of Amroha in UP where he works at a mosque… Their targets were political persons and other important personalities and vital and security installations,” NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal was quoted as saying by the website.

Mittal also added that the agency conducted simultaneous searches at 17 areas in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi drawing out large quantities of explosives and weapons.

“They weren’t just making some bombs but a large number of bombs,” he added. About 134 SIM cards, 112 alarm clocks and over 25 kg of chemicals were found, which according to Mittal were used to make remote-controlled bombs. Mittal informed that this terror module had been operating for the last four months.

A country-made launcher was also discovered by the NIA during the raids in Delhi. The ISIS-inspired terror module was also in touch with foreign handlers with whom they used to communicate through messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Searches have been conducted in Delhi’s Seelampur and UP’s Amroha, Hapur, Meerut and Lucknow. Large quantities of explosive material, weapons and ammunition including a country made rocket launcher have been recovered so far,” Mr Mittal said in a press conference.

“Level of preparation suggests their aim was to carry out explosions in near future by remote control blasts and fidayeen attacks. This is a new ISIS-inspired module, they were in touch with a foreign agent. Identities are yet to be established,” he added.

Also read: NIA searches 16 locations in Delhi, UP in connection with new ISIS module