TTP-Punjab responsible for mosque attacks: Captured terrorist

One of the two terrorists arrested during terror strikes on two mosques of the minority Ahmedi sect has told investigators that the attackers had received training in Waziristan tribal belt.

Lahore: One of the two terrorists arrested
during audacious terror strikes on two mosques of the minority
Ahmedi sect has told investigators that the attackers had
received training in the lawless Waziristan tribal belt and
were working at the behest of the Pakistani Taliban`s Punjabi
wing.

Abdullah Mohammad and Amir Muavia were captured after
they stormed the Ahemdi mosque in the upscale Model Town area
of Lahore yesterday.

Muavia was seriously injured when his suicide vest
failed to detonate properly. Mohammad, 18, was captured by
worshippers when he tried to set off explosives strapped to
his body.

"We received training in Waziristan (tribal region). Our
commander is Badar Mansoor, who is based in south Punjab,"
Mohammad was quoted as saying by SSP (investigation) Zuliqar
Hamid.

Hamid said Mohammad had disclosed that the attackers
were launched by the Punjabi faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP).

"Muavia is seriously injured and has been operated
upon. We will interrogate him after his condition
improves," Hamid said.

Mohammad hails from Rahim Yar Khan district in the
southern part of Punjab province and police teams have been
sent there to take his family and acquaintances into custody,
Hamid said.

Superintendent of Police (Model Town) Rana Ayaz
Salim said over a dozen suspects had been taken into custody
in Lahore in connection with the attack on two Ahemdi mosques.
"We launched a crackdown late on Friday night and
arrested over a dozen suspects," he told a news agency.

Police said they gleaned positive clues about the
network of the attackers from the information provided by
Mohammad.

At least 80 people were killed in the coordinated attacks
on the Ahmedi mosques at Model Town and the heavily-congested
area of Garhi Shahu areas of Lahore. Over 100 others were
injured.

Among the dead were former judge Munir Shiekh, Lt Gen
(retired) Naseer Ahmed and a senior government official.

Police said Muavia and Mohammad came to the Model
Town mosque on a motorcycle.

The motorcycle was rigged with an explosive device,
which they set off before storming the mosque.

At least three other terrorists targeted the mosque
in Ghari Shahu.

They too came to the mosque on a motorcycle fitted with
an explosive device which they detonated as they entered the
mosque.

These three attackers blew themselves up when they
were cornered by police.

The body parts of the attackers were sent to a
laboratory for forensic examination.

PTI

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