Following the arrest of three terror suspects, a high alert has been issued in the Lucknow Commissionerate region, as well as the districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, Barabanki, Unnao, and Rae Bareli in western Uttar Pradesh.
Reportedly, the UP anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted a raid in Lucknow on Saturday, July 10, and apprehended three terror suspects with a huge amount of explosive material. ATS claimed that they received information that terror suspects, now arrested, were preparing major terror attacks in the state.
The arrested have been identified as Siraj, Riyaz and Shahid and police have been searching their homes. According to ATS, seven people were living in the house, while five of them managed to flee.
Sources claim that apprehended persons were in touch with people across the border. "They were in touch with people across the border, suspicious material found; ATS commandos present at the spot, search operation underway.”
It is also being said that Shahid, who earlier managed to escape but was arrested in Malihabad, has lived in Saudi Arabia for five years. He used Telegram to contact with Al-Qaeda and his Pakistani handler Al-ul. Before being apprehended, Shahid Khan allegedly set fire to several papers and other items.
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A large amount of explosives weighing 6-7 kg and foreign pistols are recovered, along with two pressure-cooker bombs. These alleged explosives were seized from the residence with the aid of ATS dog squad. Currently, ATS commandos and bomb disposal squad are present at the spot.
UP ATS IG GK Goswami has told media that “there was a plan for serial bombings in Uttar Pradesh. Live bomb has also been recovered. Terrorists have links with Kashmir. There were sleeper cells, but now they were working actively. There were going to be blasts in Lucknow and UP today or tomorrow. A lot of explosives have been recovered.”
While the search is underway, the motives of the attackers remain unclear.