Five terror suspects were arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru for planning attacks across the city. Those arrested were identified as Junaid, Sohail, Umar, Mudasir and Jahid.
One of the accused is linked to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Bengaluru Police Commissioner said.
Several explosive materials and other items, along with their mobile phones were seized.
As further investigations were underway, the CCB was also on the lookout for five more individuals suspected to be involved in the planning.
According to the police, the five arrested accused were also involved in a 2017 murder case.
They had been lodged at the Bangalore Central Jail, wherein they came in contact with some terrorists and received training on handling explosives.
The accused were arrested after the CCB had received input about their plan for explosions in the city.
Later, in a press conference, the Bengaluru Police said one of the arrested accused had been earlier lodged in jail for 18 months, over a 2017 murder case. In jail, he came in contact with some criminals.
Addressing the media, B Dayananda, Police Commissioner, Bengaluru said, “The serial blasts accused is linked to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.”
“The CCB succeeded in tracking down those who planned to commit acts of vandalism in Bangaluru city.”
“Five accused have been arrested. Seven pistols, many live bullets, a walkie-talkie and other items were recovered from them,” he said.
“One of the accused, who is absconding, provided these weapons to those arrested to carry out certain subversive activities,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai backed the CCB and said the team has done a good job.
The chief minister further said the case should be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Bommai also slammed the present Congress government in the state and said the law and order situation in the state has gone for a toss.
“There is a big conspiracy. They wanted to do serial bomb blasts in Bengaluru. This case should be handed over to NIA,” Bommai said.