Suicide vest, explosives recovered from home of suspected ISIS terrorist

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, August 23, 2020: Multiple explosive devices and at least two suicide vest, both primed for use in a terror attack, have been recovered from the home of a suspected ISIS terrorist in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district, two days after he was arrested in Delhi.

The raid, conducted by a team of Special Cell officers from Delhi Police, also found an ISIS flag and documents linked to the terror group.

Muhammad Mustakeem (alias Yusuf or Abu Yusuf) was arrested by Delhi Police late Friday night after a brief shootout in the national capital’s Dhaula Kuan area. On Sunday the cops got time till September 17 to file a chargesheet, which will include charges under UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).

Two pressure cookers, turned into IEDs (improved explosive devices) with 15 kg of explosives in them and a pistol with four cartridges were recovered from the accused when he was arrested, police said.

Following his arrest, a team of Special Cell officers rushed to Balrampur yesterday, where they blocked off the village, conducted extensive questioning and searched his home.

Among the items recovered were two jackets containing a total of seven explosive packets and a leather belt containing around three kilograms of explosives. The bombs have been safely removed.

In total around nine kilograms of explosives were recovered. A large assortment of electric wires, transparent tapes and lithium batteries were also found, as were cylindrical metal containers packed with ball bearings and containing more bombs.

According to the cops the suspect had also tested several smaller IEDs at a burial ground in the village.

Meanwhile, NSG commandos and members of the Bomb Disposal Squad were deployed to conduct search operations in parts of Delhi immediately after his arrest. The IEDs - which the police said they were "fully ready" and only needed a timer to be activated - were safely defused.