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Police widen hunt for 3/3 clues

* Four ‘prime suspects’ among 250 arrested across Punjab
* Suspect held in Karachi admits to involvement
* Two held from Rahimyar Khan
* Nigerians, Uzbeks and Afghans detained

LAHORE/KARACHI: Police widened the hunt for clues in Tuesday’s brazen attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, arresting 250 suspects in province-wide raids – four of which sources in the police said were prime suspects.

The four men included Muhammad Faisal, a brother of Muhammad Adil – the ‘mastermind’ of the attack – sources privy to the probe told Daily Times, adding that they were arrested during raids in Lahore by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA). Sources in the agency said Adil – who ran sports bikes business on the Outfall Road in Islampura – received a call from one of the attackers at about 9:05am. In the call intercepted by the police, the attacker asks the planner for instructions after the attack, and was told to go to a location near Islampura.

The police could not find Adil – he had left the residence registered with NADRA two years ago. The information could not be confirmed as senior investigators were not immediately available.

Karachi: In Karachi, police arrested a burqa-clad man from the Tezgaam Express when it arrived at the Cantt Railway Station. The suspect, identified as Maulvi Munir from Multan, admitted to being involved in the Lahore terrorist attack, sources in an intelligence agency told Daily Times. But Railways SSP Muzaffar Sheikh said he appeared to be mentally challenged.

Rahim Yar Khan: Two suspects were held in a raid in Rahim Yar Khan. A mobile phone SIM that one of the attackers used was registered in the name of one of them – Babar Shahzad.

Meanwhile in Lahore, police initiated a major crackdown on hotels, guesthouses and hostels, and arrested a large number of people who could not prove their identity. Owners of some hotels near the Lahore Railway Station were also arrested. Model Town police continued search operations in the Makkah Colony, Hussain Chowk, Firdous Market and Khan Colony areas.

Three Nigerians were arrested from Lahore, three Uzbeks and an Afghan from Quetta and two from Karachi, a private TV channel reported. Another news channel quoted investigators as saying the attackers wanted to hold the Sri Lankan team hostage until their demands were met. rana tanveer/daily times monitor

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