Man claiming to be TTP spokesperson arrested: CTD

CTD says Mohammad Israel tried diverting investigation of the PAF Badhaber base attack

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested on Monday a suspect claiming to be a spokesperson of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al Qaeda from Nowshera.

The arrested man identified as Mohammad Israel tried diverting attention of investigators pursuing the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Badhaber base attack by providing wrong information, said a statement issued by CTD.

On September 18, at least 29 people, including an army captain, had been killed as militants attacked a heavily-guarded PAF base in Badhaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar.

At least 29 killed, including army captain, as militants attack PAF base in Peshawar

Details suggest Israel sent a message to the interior ministry in which he claimed to be a spokesperson of TTP and al Qaeda, and shared flawed information.

Israel’s arrest came after CTD worked on the forensic data and successfully traced him, the statement added.