India: Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad arrests four ISIS terrorists at Ahmedabad airport

In a significant development, the Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arrested four ISIS terrorists at Ahmedabad airport on Monday afternoon (May 20).

All four of them reportedly hail from Sri Lanka and have ties with the Islamic State.

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The accused were identified by the officials as Mohammad Nusrat, Mohammad Nufran, Mohammad Faris and Mohammad Razdin and all four of them were active members of the banned terror outfit.

"An information was received that they are coming to India to commit a terror attack," Gujarat DGP Vikash Sahay said.

The police official further stated that the terrorists had boarded a flight from Chennai, bound for Ahmedabad.

"The arrests were made after analysing the information and list of passengers coming from south".

"All four of them are completely radicalised by the ISIS ideology and they are going to come to India to commit a terror attack. As per the information, they were going to reach Ahmedabad on May 18 or 19 either by railway or flight. Teams were formed and strategy was created based on the information received. Passenger lists of trains and flights coming from the south were analysed. All 4 of them were travelling from Chennai to Ahmedabad on the same PNR no. through an Indigo flight. Verification was done in Colombo too for confirmation," Gujarat DGP said at a press briefing.

Gujarat ATS released a statement saying that the evidence showed the terrorists were committed to joining the terror outfit and "following the path shown by Abu Bakr Baghdadi".

"Evidences showing their commitment to join the proscribed terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), follow the path shown by Abu Bakr Baghdadi and to teach a lesson to the attackers who commit atrocities against Muslim Community as well as to teach a lesson to Jews, Christians andmembers of BJP-RSS," said the statement.

Earlier, in Aug 2023, the ATS arrested three persons over their alleged connection to Al Qaeda. They were prima facie operating for a Bangladeshi handler to radicalise and recruit people for the banned terrorist organisation.

(With inputs from agencies)