Times of India : 7/11 blasts: Cops identify bomber

7/11 blasts: Cops identify bomber

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2021583.cms

by Mateen Hafeez | September 24, 2006

MUMBAI: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) says it has identified Faisal Shaikh (30) as one of those who had planted a bomb in Mumbai's local trains on 7/11.

ATS sources said they have connected all the incidents and missing links in the train bombing case, which killed 187 people.

"The material for making bombs — ammonium nitrate and oil fuel — was purchased in Mumbai and the RDX was smuggled into the city. We have also come across details about the transportation of the explosive in Mumbai," said an officer.

A resident of Mira Road, Faisal was arrested on July 27 with his younger brother Muzammil (26) in connection with the seven bombs planted in commuter trains that went off between 6.24pm and 6.35 pm on July 11.

Faisal, who claimed to be an exporter, had made startling revelations during his narco-analysis test. But police officials, who picked him up, said his "small export business" was only a front for routing hawala money that was channelled into terror causes.

The police have also come across details about the place where the conspiracy was hatched and those who visited Mumbai before the blasts.

Investigators said bombs were manufactured in the city and then it was planted in the trains. "Their aim was to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims and sabotage the economy. They didn't reveal about the conspiracy until they were subjected to the forensic tests,"an officer said.

Nine people have been arrested in this case so far including Dr Tanvir, Kamal Ahmed, Khalid Shaikh, Mumtaz Maqbool Chaudhury, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Sohail Shaikh, Zameer Shaikh among others.

All of them were arrested on suspicion and later revealed they were trained in operating firearms and bomb making at a camp in Bhawalpur in Pakistan.

In the camp, all the trainees were given code names like Abu Amin and Abu Mushtaque. Faisal visited Pakistan twice in 2004 and 2005 for weapons training and stayed there for six months each time. He also met key ISI operative Azam Cheema, officials claimed.

Officials said Pune resident Sohail revealed he was given the job to find names, addresses and current postings of hundreds of policemen who were deployed during the 2002 Gujarat riots but did nothing to stop those riots.

Faisal's father sent him to a boarding school, Jamia-tul-Huda in Malegaon, Nasik. After completing his metric from Malegaon in 1993, Faisal again moved to Mumbai and took admission at Maharashtra College but dropped later. In 1994, he joined a technical course at Eklvya Polytechnik, but dropped out again.

The only unclaimed body, who was also killed in the Mahim blast, is still lying at Sion Hospital. "Faisal was instructed to gather information about Bombay Stock Exchange, BPOs, a few Maharashtra minister and a top politician from Gujarat.'