TTP Punjab rehearsed attack on nuclear site: Report
Circulars issued to provincial bodies to thwart terror plot.
LAHORE:
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s Punjab faction has already held rehearsals to target a nuclear site in DG Khan, revealed an intelligence report.
The faction was identified as the key culprit in the report. The report also dispelled the notion that terrorists have completed reconnaissance and have succeeded in getting a video footage of the installation in DG Khan.
Most of the reconnaissance was carried out by a Punjabi Taliban group led by Asmatullah Moavia.
Moavia’s group will be abetted by TTP commanders Ghulam Rabbani and Qari Kamran for the attack.
The report also revealed that terrorists had already rehearsed the attack by having frequented their planned route to the nuclear facility.
Circular issued
On the basis of this intelligence report, a circular had been issued by the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) and the interior ministry, which was then forwarded to all provincial law enforcement agencies.
Using a code word to refer to the nuclear installation, the circular directed close coordination between all law enforcement agencies and foolproof security measures to thwart the nefarious terror scheme.
Suicide bombers have been earmarked in this regard, stated the circular.
DPO DG Khan Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem, while talking to The Express Tribune, confirmed the intelligence report as well as the circulars issued by the federal and provincial governments.
Security of sensitive sites was already beefed up after the Kamra airbase attack but on receiving this new threat alert, the security of the DG Khan nuclear facility has been further enhanced, Saleem said.
About eight police pickets have been established around the nuclear sites, besides inner security cardons.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2012.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s Punjab faction has already held rehearsals to target a nuclear site in DG Khan, revealed an intelligence report.
The faction was identified as the key culprit in the report. The report also dispelled the notion that terrorists have completed reconnaissance and have succeeded in getting a video footage of the installation in DG Khan.
Most of the reconnaissance was carried out by a Punjabi Taliban group led by Asmatullah Moavia.
Moavia’s group will be abetted by TTP commanders Ghulam Rabbani and Qari Kamran for the attack.
The report also revealed that terrorists had already rehearsed the attack by having frequented their planned route to the nuclear facility.
Circular issued
On the basis of this intelligence report, a circular had been issued by the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) and the interior ministry, which was then forwarded to all provincial law enforcement agencies.
Using a code word to refer to the nuclear installation, the circular directed close coordination between all law enforcement agencies and foolproof security measures to thwart the nefarious terror scheme.
Suicide bombers have been earmarked in this regard, stated the circular.
DPO DG Khan Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem, while talking to The Express Tribune, confirmed the intelligence report as well as the circulars issued by the federal and provincial governments.
Security of sensitive sites was already beefed up after the Kamra airbase attack but on receiving this new threat alert, the security of the DG Khan nuclear facility has been further enhanced, Saleem said.
About eight police pickets have been established around the nuclear sites, besides inner security cardons.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2012.