Pakistan arrests key Qaeda man

KARACHI: Police has arrested a ninth alleged member of a newly-identified Al Qaeda-trained terror group accused of trying to assassinate the Karachi corps commander, an official said on Wednesday.

Shahzad Talha, who is suspected of taking part in last week’s attempted assassination of the corps commander, was picked up on Tuesday in a raid on an apartment block in Karachi’s eastern suburbs.

“He is a key member of the group’s militant wing, who was wanted in the attack on the corps commander’s convoy and other terrorist activities,” police investigator Manzoor Mughal said.

The group named Jund Allah (God’s Brigade) was trained at an Al Qaeda camp in South Waziristan Agency, officials have said. Eight Jund Allah members were arrested in Karachi on the weekend. They were also accused of organising the double car bomb attack near the US consul general’s residence on May 26, in which a policeman was killed and more than 10 people wounded. “Police are looking for other members of the group and we are confident of smashing the group before it takes roots,” Mughal said. Talha will be produced in an anti-terrorism court later on Wednesday. afp

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