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Pakistani father-son duo held in Italy over Mumbai attacks

November 21, 2009 15:34 IST
A Pakistani father-son duo in Italy, who managed a money transfer agency that was used to finance the Mumbai terror attacks, were arrested on Saturday in the northern Italian city of Brescia.

The two men were arrested in an early morning raid, police in Brescia said. In a statement, police said the suspects managed a money transfer agency and helped fund the November 26 attacks.

The day before the attacks last year they transferred money to activate an Internet phone account that was used by the attackers and their accomplices, Stefano Fonzi, the head of anti-terror police in Brescia, was quoted as saying by AP.

Italian police began the probe in December last year after being alerted by FBI that the money had been sent from Italy, Fonzi was quoted as saying, adding that the funds were transferred under the identity of another Pakistani who never visited Italy and was not involved in the alleged crimes.

The two men have been accused of aiding and abetting international terrorism as well as illegal financial activity. The Indian government has been informed of the arrests by the Italian authorities, sources in New Delhi said.

They said Indian agencies are also trying to find out whether the arrested persons had any links with David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, nabbed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States last month on charges of plotting a major terror attack in India at Laskar-e-Tayiba's behest.

Prasun Sonwalkar in London
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