Key suspect in Mumbai terror attack held

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Abu Jindal Hamza, an Indian suspected to be involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and a member of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist organisation, has been arrested, police said Monday.

The accused, who is also suspected to have links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, was arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) here June 21 after his deportation to India from a Gulf country, a police officer said.

Hamza, 30, alias Riasat Ali, was believed to be one of the key handlers of the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack. He was said to be in Pakistan when the attack took place, the officer said.

His alias had previously been given as Sayeed Zabi ud Deen, one of the many that he uses, police said.

The terror suspect, who hails from Georai area of Beed district in Maharashtra, was presented before a court here June 21 and sent to 15 days' police custody.

According to police, Hamza went to Pakistan to allegedly guide and train terrorists for the Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed.

"It's an operation that we had been preparing for months. Apart from the Mumbai terror attack, he was also involved in the Aurangabad (Maharashtra) arms haul in 2006 and a pipeline blast in Ahmedabad. He seems to have fled to Pakistan immediately after the Aurangabad arms haul," a police official said.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said appropriate action will be taken after investigations conducted by the Delhi Police.

"The Delhi Police has been doing a magnificent job. First let them go through the investigation, they will then send a report to the government and we shall act accordingly," Krishna told reporters.