Mumbai attacks suspect arrested in Zimbabwe: report
A Pakistani suspected of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks along with another man has been arrested in Zimbabwe.
HARARE:
A Pakistani suspected of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks has been arrested in Zimbabwe, along with another Pakistani national, as he tried to cross into South Africa, police and state media said on Saturday.
The suspect, Imran Muhammad, 33, and Chaudry Parvez Ahmed, 39, were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post the state-run Herald newspaper reported, adding that Muhammad was wanted for the Mumbai attacks.
“Indications were that ... Muhammad [is] wanted in Pakistan [as he] was allegedly involved in the terror attacks that rocked Mumbai, India, in November 2008,” the daily said.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said the two were arrested on June 20 after they were found using fake Kenyan passports. “Investigations are still being carried out through Interpol to see who these people are,” he told AFP.
“We will have to get information from the Pakistani authorities to see what they have on these two.”
Meanwhile, sources in the Pakistan Foreign Office said that they are trying to ascertain the nationality of the two men.
They said that they are in contact with the Pakistan embassy but since it is the weekend, they haven’t been able to get all the required information.
According to unnamed sources quoted by the Herald, Muhammad was based in the Chilean capital Santiago. The daily said the two flew from Saudi Arabia to Tanzania, before connecting to Zimbabwe by road.
Bvudzijena did not comment on why the two were travelling to South Africa.
“This is part of our investigations. We will only be able to know why they wanted to travel to South Africa once our investigations are completed,” he said.
Zimbabwean and South African officials have tightened border patrols since the start of the World Cup in South Africa on June 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2010.
A Pakistani suspected of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks has been arrested in Zimbabwe, along with another Pakistani national, as he tried to cross into South Africa, police and state media said on Saturday.
The suspect, Imran Muhammad, 33, and Chaudry Parvez Ahmed, 39, were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post the state-run Herald newspaper reported, adding that Muhammad was wanted for the Mumbai attacks.
“Indications were that ... Muhammad [is] wanted in Pakistan [as he] was allegedly involved in the terror attacks that rocked Mumbai, India, in November 2008,” the daily said.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said the two were arrested on June 20 after they were found using fake Kenyan passports. “Investigations are still being carried out through Interpol to see who these people are,” he told AFP.
“We will have to get information from the Pakistani authorities to see what they have on these two.”
Meanwhile, sources in the Pakistan Foreign Office said that they are trying to ascertain the nationality of the two men.
They said that they are in contact with the Pakistan embassy but since it is the weekend, they haven’t been able to get all the required information.
According to unnamed sources quoted by the Herald, Muhammad was based in the Chilean capital Santiago. The daily said the two flew from Saudi Arabia to Tanzania, before connecting to Zimbabwe by road.
Bvudzijena did not comment on why the two were travelling to South Africa.
“This is part of our investigations. We will only be able to know why they wanted to travel to South Africa once our investigations are completed,” he said.
Zimbabwean and South African officials have tightened border patrols since the start of the World Cup in South Africa on June 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2010.