Kolkata/Kochi: National Investigation Agency, NIA has arrested nine Al-Qaeda terrorists from West Bengal and Kerala. The agency today conducted simultaneous raids at several locations at Ernakulam in Kerala and Murshidabad in West Bengal and arrested these terrorists associated with Pakistan sponsored module of Al-Qaeda. Six terrorists were arrested from West-Bengal and three terrorists from Kerala. In a statement, NIA said, the group was planning to undertake terrorist attacks at vital installations in India with an aim to kill innocent people and strike terror in their minds.
The agency said, large quantity of incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms and literature used for making home-made explosive devices have been seized from their possession. As per preliminary investigation, these individuals were radicalised by Pakistan-based Al-Qaeda terrorists on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region. The module was actively indulging in fund raising and a few members of the gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.