Mumbai attacks: Interpol issues global alert for 13 suspects

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Aug 6 (PTI) Acting on Pakistan's request,
Interpol Thursday issued a global alert for 13 suspects,
including LeT operatives, wanted for the audacious Mumbai
terror attacks.

It was issued on a written request by Islamabad, which
said the 13 suspects were wanted by police authorities in
Pakistan in connection with ongoing investigation into the
26/11 strikes, a statement released by the International
Criminal Police Organisation said.

The alert, put out by the international police network's
National Central Bureau in Islamabad, asks Interpol member
countries to assist in locating the fugitives and immediately
notify the organisation with "any investigative leads."

Though the Interpol statement did not identify the 13
fugitives, a dossier recently handed over by Pakistan to India
gave the names of suspects as LeT operatives Mohammad Amjad
Khan and Iftikhar Ali; Shahid Ghafoor, captain of the boats
Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauz used by the attackers; and boat crew
members Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Usman, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Riaz
Ahmad, Muhammad Mushtaq, Muhammad Naeem, Abdul Shakoor,
Muhammad Sabir Salfi, Muhammad Usman and Shakil Ahmad.

The suspects have also been declared "proclaimed
offenders" by a Pakistani anti-terror court.

The Pakistani investigation has suggested that Mohammad
Amjad Khan played a key role in training and facilitating the
terrorists involved in the attacks.

Iftikhar Ali deposited 250 dollars in Islamabad to obtain
a VoIP connection for communication between the attackers and
their handlers in Pakistan.

Islamabad's request to Interpol comes close on the heels
of a fresh dossier of evidence on the Mumbai attacks being
handed over by India to Pakistan, asking it to expedite the
prosecution of JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed, the mastermind of
the 26/11 strikes, and five arrested LeT operatives.

But, Pakistan Thursday claimed the information provided
so far by India on the Mumbai attacks was not enough for it to
take legal action against Saeed.

The Interpol said the global alert contains the names of
the fugitives and their other data which has been sent to 186
member countries.

"If the fugitives are located, Pakistani authorities will
then formally request provisional arrest with a view towards
extradition, in accordance with any applicable extradition
treaty," the statement said, indicating that most of the
suspects for whom the lookout notice had been issued were
apparently not in Pakistan.

Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble said "the
investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks highlighted the
vital role played by the world police body's international
organs in supporting its member countries against terrorism by
circulating information worldwide to ensure the location and
eventual arrest of suspected terrorists." PTI RHL
AM
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