Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday arrested wanted terrorist Abdul Samad Bhatkal, believed to be one of the conspirators of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Acting on a tip off from the central intelligence agencies, Bhatkal was arrested early this morning from Mangalore’s Bajpe airport shortly after he arrived from Dubai.
Bhatkal was then immediately whisked away to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Abdul Samad Bhatkal is a member of the banned outfit SIMI and is also a close relative of Indian Mujahideen (IM) founder Riaz Bhatkal.
The arrest comes months after the government issued a look-out notice for Bhatkal, who is believed to have planned and co-ordinated the 26/11 attacks while staying in Pakistan.
Bhatkal’s hand is also suspected in this year’s German bakery blast on February 14 in Pune.
Bhatkal’s arrest is likely to provide vital clues to the investigators probing the 26/11 case and in cracking the German Bakery blast case.
Bhatkal would be certainly grilled for ascertaining Pakistan’s role in deadliest terrorist attacks in the country’s economic capital, his links and network in India.
First Published: Monday, May 24, 2010, 16:38