An Islamic State terrorist was caught in Delhi along with a huge cache of explosives and weapons. The terrorist, identified as Abu Yusuf, was planning a major terror attack and has revealed that it was in retaliation to the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were defused by a team of the National Security Guard (NSG) on Saturday morning at Buddha Jayanti Park on Ridge Road. This is the same location in Dhaula Kuan from where security officials arrested Abu Yusuf.
Top developments:
1. Teams of central agencies, UP Police Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and Delhi Police interrogated Abu Yusuf, the arrested Islamic State terrorist on Saturday. The terrorist was arrested from Dhaula Kuan area on Friday night after a brief exchange of fire. Several explosives and weapons were also recovered from him.
2. Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-Noida areas have been put on high alert following the arrest and multiple raids were carried out in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to nab other associates of the arrested terrorist.
3. According to sources, Abu Yusuf has revealed in the first round of interrogation that he was in touch with his handlers in Afghanistan and the group was planning a major terror attack in retaliation to the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
4. Abu Yusuf had recced several places for the attack and the investigators are now questioning him about the details of these spots. The Islamic State terrorist is also being questioned on his Delhi visit.
5. Abu Yusuf has been remanded for 8 days’ police custody. He will be taken to Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh.
6. Teams of Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh ATS will be visiting Balrampur in UP. Abu Yusuf hailed from Balrampur and police have already conducted raids in the area following his arrest.
7. Apart from the arrest, police also recovered two pressure cookers from the terrorist, along with a pistol, four live cartridges and a mobile phone. The exact quantity of recovered IEDs are not known yet but it is estimated to be around 15 kilograms.
8. A bomb disposal team of the National Security Guard (NSG) reached the spot in Dhaula Kuan along with a robot that helps pick up a bomb or IED and a TCV (total containment vessel) vehicle used to defuse a bomb in a controlled environment. The team successfully managed to defuse the bomb.
9. Uttar Pradesh DGP Hitesh Chandra Awasthi sounded an alert in the state and asked all police officers, especially those in field posting, to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. In addition, security checks have been intensified along the Delhi border in Uttar Pradesh's Noida.
10. Vehicles and passengers moving to and fro Delhi are being checked at the border, while Gautam Buddh Nagar district is also on alert mode, Noida Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh S said.