Police foils Minar-e-Pakistan terror bid, arrests 3 suspects in Lahore

Police say arrested men had planned on targeting Muharram 8, 9 processions. Hand grenades and explosives recovered.

LAHORE: Police in Lahore arrested three alleged terrorists near Minar-e-Pakistan and recovered explosive materials. arms, ammunition and four hand grenades from their possession.

Express News correspondent Noman Sheikh reported that the three men hailed from Punjab and had planned on targeting processions on Muharram 8 and 9.

Their facilitator is reported to be based in the tribal areas. Police are also using their mobile phone records to track down accomplices.

Police recovered four hand grenades, detonators, eight kilogrammes of explosives, one Kalashnikov and related ammunition from the arrested men.

The arrests were made after suspects picked up earlier had identified the men.

Deputy Superintendent of CIA Tariq Ilyas Kayai in a press conference revealed that all the three arrested accused were residents of Begum Pura Lahore and area associated with the TTP. He added that they were planning  various terrorist activities.

A case has been registered against the accused with Police Station Lorry Adda under sections Anti Terrorism Act, Explosive Act and relevant sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Earlier, a report by the Punjab government had warned that terrorists had started planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in cement blocks which may be used to target the police and army personnel.