Terrorist attack on Islamabad Stock Exchange foiled: CTD

Terrorists involved in four bomb blasts carried out in Rawalpindi in 2020 arrested, say police

RAWALPINDI:

Police on Monday claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack on Islamabad Stock Exchange, the latest target of the cell said to be responsible for multiple bombings in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. 

Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed the arrest of three alleged terrorists involved in four bomb blasts in Rawalpindi, the latest being the bombing in the Pir Wadhai area of the city earlier this months. 

The CTD, in a statement, said that information regarding the presence of the three terrorists was received from an anonymous source, which claimed that the three were hiding Adyala-Kharakan Road.

The law enforcers raided the location and managed to arrest the alleged terrorists. Explosives, detonators, cell phones and other items were recovered from their possession, added the statement. 

During the investigation, the individuals accepted responsibility for the four bombings in Rawalpindi - in January, March, June and December of 2020 - that killed four innocent civilians and injured more than 30.

The statement further added that the terrorists said they were motivated by the proscribed  Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ideally. However, now they are working for masterminds based in Afghanistan.

They further disclosed, according to the CTD statement, that their group leader was receiving funds from Afghanistan for carrying out these terrorist activities. They also revealed that they had planned their next attack, with the Islamabad Stock Exchange chosen as a target.

An investigation has been launched to unearth the entire network. First information reports (FIRs) have been lodged in Police Station CTD Rawalpindi.