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Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
The Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, one of the sites of the attack

International arrest warrants have been issued by the Interpol against five Pakistani nationals for their alleged role in the Mumbai terror attack and plotting to carry out more strikes.

The National Investigation Agency, which is probing the role of Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley in India, had approached the court of the additional sessions judge, Delhi, which issued a non-bailable warrant against the five Pakistanis.

Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
LeT founder Hafiz Saeed

The Interpol Red Corner Notice were issued against Illyas Kashmiri, Major Sameer Ali, Major Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Hashim alias 'Pasha' and Sajid Majid alias Sajid Mir, a NIA official said on Thursday. The action followed a request from India.

India had already secured a Red Corner Notice against founder of terrorist outfit LeT Hafeez Saeed, his close aide Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Mohammed Ramadhan Mohammed Siddiqui alias Abu Hamza.

Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
In memory of the victims of 26/11

The court issued the non-bailable warrant against the five after the NIA submitted the interrogation report of Headley, conducted by its officials during the visit of its team to Chicago in June.

The names of these five were also included in several dossiers sent by India to Pakistan. Headley helped the NIA identify voices of handlers who were giving instructions to the holed-up terrorists during the 60-hour siege in Mumbai in November 2008.

Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
Bullet holes on one of the walls of Chabad House

The handlers included Abu Hamza, the man who carried out the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and a key planner, instructor and handler.

He also identified Sajid Majid, a top LeT terrorist, who asked the terrorists in Chabad House to ensure that none of the Israelis were left alive. Abdur Rehman retired in 2007 from the Pakistan army as a Major.

Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
Scenes from the night of 26/11

He worked closely with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and coordinated the activities of Headley. He was arrested in 2009 in Pakistan on unspecified charges and later released. Major Iqbal was Headley's handler who arranged funds and training in intelligence-gathering. Iqbal gave him 25,000 dollars in August 2006 to visit India.

Another Pakistani Major, Sameer Ali, was also named by the Pakistani-American terrorist. The Interpol had on August 25 last year issued Red Corner notices to Saeed, Lakhvi and Abu Hamza.

Interpol issues warrant against Pak's 26/11 plotters

Last updated on: October 7, 2010 18:39 IST
Policemen keep a watch on the sites of the terror attack

The notices were issued after a Mumbai court issued a non-bailable warrant against the two for their role in the Mumbai attack.

India has also sent relevant proof and a request for issuing a similar warrant against Lashkar commander Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama, to which the Interpol has said that it was analysing the evidence against them.

Saeed had allegedly provided training to terrorists between 2007 and 2008 at Muridke (LeT headquarters), Manshera, Muzzafarabad, Azizabad, Paanch Teni in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.