Hyderabad: The National Investigation Agency officials with the help of the Hyderabad police on Wednesday busted an ISIS terror module and took 11 suspects in custody. The group of terror suspects in the Old City, including two brothers, one of whom is Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, an engineer who worked with Amazon earlier, had been experimenting with deadly explosive ingredients like Hydrogen Peroxide.
Most of them were educated youth aged from 24 to 32 years. They were engineering graduates, automobile experts, motor mechanics, automobile modifiers and have mechanical, electrical and electronic expertise to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), said police sources, who are also working on Saudi and Gulf connections.
Cops are baffled with the seizure of chemicals resembling Hydrogen Peroxide from the suspects. The suicide bombers who had carried out the attacks in 2015 had used an explosive called Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), which can be made using Hydrogen Peroxide. TATP explosives are very difficult to detect with scanners; the module wanted to target Inorbit Mall and information technolgy companies.
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A senior intelligence official said, “We also found urea used in bombs. The biggest concern is Hydrogen Peroxide. The suspects had got bomb making knowhow from the Internet and were experimenting. However they had not made an Improvised Explosive Devices.”
Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias Fahad, 31, a graduate and resident of Panch Mohalla was the bomb expert. Fahad is an automobile modifier and also a BBA degree holder.
“The two brothers, Mohammed Ilyas Yazdani, 24, a graduate and resident of Talab Katta and Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani, 30, an engineer and resident of Chatta Bazar, and Fahad were radicalised by Shafi Armar. They in turn formed a group with their friends and started meeting regularly to carry out terror activities,” said an investigating official. Yazdani had completed BTech (EEE) from Anwar ul Uloom Engineering College.
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He had worked for Amazon in its mobile marketing division. He was currently jobless. Ibrahim had earlier worked in Saudi Arabia before returning to India.
Police said they were in touch with not only Shafi Armar in Syria but also with other mediator and handlers in Gulf.
"They were practicing with air guns using pellets. They didn’t have ammunition for their country-made pistols; they are planning to procure the bullets that fit these fire arms,” said an official.
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Among the others, Ali Azhar was a B.Com student, Habeeb worked in an Internet centre, Ilyas in a Mee Seva centre, Irfan was a motor mechanic and Rizwan was unemployed.
Fahad’s arrest unbelievable
The street at Punch Mohalla near Charminar looked unusually quiet on Wednesday afternoon. A few locals were seen gathered here and there, talking about the arrest of local resident Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi, known to everyone as Fahad, in connection with the Islamic State terror module. A few relatives and family friends of Fahad stood in front of his house, baffled and anxious.
When this reporter approached them to speak, they dispersed stating they had nothing to say about him. Fahad has been identified as the king pin of the group, and was called Amir.
Youngsters and elders from the neighbourhood said that they did not see Fahad frequently in the area. “He would not talk much to us and he always minded his own business. All I know is that he was an expert in modifying bikes and other automobiles,” said a teenager from next door.
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Elders remember that Fahad had gone abroad for work and had come back several months back. He had started working in Hyderabad after he returned.
“He lived with his wife and a child. His elder brothers and mother also live here,” said another local resident. Most people from the neighbourhood believe that Fahad came from a respectable family and did not have any ill intentions.
“I cannot believe what has happened. It is impossible. His family members are good people as far as I know. And he also seemed to be a very noble hearted person,” said a neighbour.
