Coimbatore car blast: National Investigation Agency arrests three

COIMBATORE: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested three people in connection with the car blast in front of the Sangameswarar temple at Kottaimedu in Coimbatore on October 23. These are the first arrests by the NIA after taking over the investigation from the Tamil Nadu police, who had already arrested six friends of Jameesha Mubin, 29, the car bomber who was killed. An NIA source identified the arrested as Mohammed Thoufeek, 25, of Podanur, Umar Faaruq alias K Srinivasan, 39, of Coonoor, and Ferose Khan, 28, of Ukkadam. "Umar, an auto driver, moved to Coonoor from Coimbatore three months ago. He was first summoned for an inquiry and arrested later," the source said. TNN
A city police officer, meanwhile, said they had interrogated Umar and Ferose after the car blast. "Umar was in touch with Mubin over the phone," the officer said.
The NIA source said Umar and Ferose were part of the conspiracy meetings attended by Mubin at Umar's residence at Coonoor. "They also provided support to Mubin in commissioning terror acts. Mohammed was in possession of radical Islamist literature. He had handwritten notes on preparation of explosives," the officer said. The NIA source said Mubin's plan was to carry out a suicide attack and damage symbols and monuments of a particular religion and terrorise people in the name of the ISIS.