Jeddah bomber was an Indian

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that the suicide bomber, who detonated a device near the U.S. consulate in Jeddah in 2016, was an Indian. He has been identified as Fayaz Kagzi, an alleged operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, who had fled to Pakistan through Bangladesh in 2006. His identity was ascertained through a DNA test done by the Saudi authorities.

A day after the July 3, 2016 bombing, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that the suspect was identified as “Abdullah Qalzar Khan, a 35-year-old private driver who had been living with his wife and her parents in Jeddah for 12 years.” The suspect in the photograph, released by the Saudi authorities, resembled Kagzi, a resident of Beed in Maharashtra, wanted in India for the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune and the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case. Hence, the Maharashtra police asked Saudi officials for confirmation of his identity.

“After his photograph was published by Saudi authorities, he was recognised by the Maharashtra police. The Saudi authorities were asked to confirm his identity. DNA samples were collected from his family members and sent to Saudi Arabia. The samples matched, and it was confirmed that the bomber was Kagzi. We have informed the court that the suspect is dead,” a senior official said. He said the Saudi authorities replied to the correspondence last year.

Another official said Kagzi was looking after LeT finances and could have switched allegiance to the Islamic State. LeT operative Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who directed the 26/11 Mumbai terrorists from a control room in Karachi, was deported from Saudi Arabia in 2012. He told the authorities that he had met Kagzi there.