In India's Jharkhand, security agencies have heightened surveillance in the industrial city of Jamshedpur following an international alert linked to suspected terror activity. The alert, as per reports, includes warnings of over a dozen active sleeper cells that were allegedly trained in Pakistan. The alert has prompted local authorities and central agencies to step up monitoring across the city, a red notice has been issued for Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, the man suspected of leading the terror nexus.<h2>Sleeper cells active in India?</h2>Interrogation of terrorists detained from around the nation has revealed that sleeper cells are active across major regions in India. Of this, at least 12 are believed to have been embedded in Jamshedpur. These cells are believed to have direct or indirect links with handlers in Pakistan, with some individuals reportedly receiving training abroad. Investigators also suspect that several operatives are maintaining contact with foreign handlers through encrypted communication platforms while living seemingly normal lives.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/home-minister-amit-shah-s-j-k-visit-coincides-with-major-counter-terror-operation-1770358843538">Home Minister’s J&amp;K visit coincides with major counter-terror operation</a>According to the New Indian Express, district police, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and anti-terror units have been asked to remain on high alert, particularly at sensitive locations, vital installations, and crowded public spaces. While authorities said that the situation was under control, precautionary measures have been intensified to prevent any potential threat.<h2>Who is Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, the alleged leader of these sleeper cells?</h2>Security agencies have identified Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, a resident of the Azadnagar area in Jamshedpur, as the leader of the sleeper cell network. Arshiyan has reportedly been absconding for at least seven to eight years. Teams from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have reportedly visited the city multiple times in search of him. Now, based on recommendations from investigating agencies, Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against him, thereby expanding the search internationally. Officials believe Arshiyan may have been involved in recruiting and radicalising youth locally. His brother, Mohammad Zeeshan, who has also been linked to the network, is currently lodged in a Delhi jail.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/epstein-files-trump-andrew-clinton-and-more-the-11-prominent-names-listed-in-fbi-presentation-for-alleged-abuse-of-minors-1770354719231">Trump, Clinton and more - 11 'prominent names' listed by FBI in Epstein Files</a>Jamshedpur has previously surfaced in investigations into extremist networks. In 2019, Mohammed Kalimuddin Mujahiri, a wanted member of the banned Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), was arrested in the city. During interrogation, he reportedly said he had recruited several people by influencing them about Jihad. Investigators also traced links to Abdul Rahman Katki, arrested in Odisha in 2016. &nbsp;

Security agencies in Jharkhand have stepped up surveillance in Jamshedpur after an international alert warned of possible terror activity linked to suspected Pakistan-trained sleeper cells. Investigators believe around a dozen such cells may be active in the city.

In India's Jharkhand, security agencies have heightened surveillance in the industrial city of Jamshedpur following an international alert linked to suspected terror activity. The alert, as per reports, includes warnings of over a dozen active sleeper cells that were allegedly trained in Pakistan. The alert has prompted local authorities and central agencies to step up monitoring across the city, a red notice has been issued for Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, the man suspected of leading the terror nexus. Sleeper cells active in India? Interrogation of terrorists detained from around the nation has revealed that sleeper cells are active across major regions in India. Of this, at least 12 are believed to have been embedded in Jamshedpur. These cells are believed to have direct or indirect links with handlers in Pakistan, with some individuals reportedly receiving training abroad. Investigators also suspect that several operatives are maintaining contact with foreign handlers through encrypted communication platforms while living seemingly normal lives. Also read | Home Minister’s J&K visit coincides with major counter-terror operation According to the New Indian Express, district police, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and anti-terror units have been asked to remain on high alert, particularly at sensitive locations, vital installations, and crowded public spaces. While authorities said that the situation was under control, precautionary measures have been intensified to prevent any potential threat. Who is Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, the alleged leader of these sleeper cells? Security agencies have identified Syed Mohammad Arshiyan, a resident of the Azadnagar area in Jamshedpur, as the leader of the sleeper cell network. Arshiyan has reportedly been absconding for at least seven to eight years. Teams from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have reportedly visited the city multiple times in search of him. Now, based on recommendations from investigating agencies, Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against him, thereby expanding the search internationally. Officials believe Arshiyan may have been involved in recruiting and radicalising youth locally. His brother, Mohammad Zeeshan, who has also been linked to the network, is currently lodged in a Delhi jail. Also read | Trump, Clinton and more - 11 'prominent names' listed by FBI in Epstein Files Jamshedpur has previously surfaced in investigations into extremist networks. In 2019, Mohammed Kalimuddin Mujahiri, a wanted member of the banned Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), was arrested in the city. During interrogation, he reportedly said he had recruited several people by influencing them about Jihad. Investigators also traced links to Abdul Rahman Katki, arrested in Odisha in 2016.

Security agencies in Jharkhand have stepped up surveillance in Jamshedpur after an international alert warned of possible terror activity linked to suspected Pakistan-trained sleeper cells. Investigators believe around a dozen such cells may be active in the city.

Jamshedpur on high alert over Pakistan-linked sleeper cells; Interpol issues red notice for leader Syed Mohammad Arshiyan

When President Donald Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, a full day ahead of schedule, the official explanation was swift and stern: the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran required his immediate presence in Washington. But among diplomats and intelligence officials, a more unsettling theory quickly began to spread— one that linked Trump’s exit not just to the Middle East, but to threats much closer to home. Specifically, there were reports that Iran had activated or threatened to activate sleeper cells within the United States. Could this be the real reason behind the sudden leaving of the American president from the G7 stage?&nbsp;According to senior intelligence sources, chatter picked up in the days leading up to the summit suggested that Tehran, reeling from the devastation inflicted was preparing asymmetric retaliation. One threat loomed particularly large: attacks on American targets through covert operatives embedded in the West. The CIA reportedly flagged multiple signals indicating potential “active positioning” of these sleeper units.&nbsp;Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, in a pointed remark to the press, claimed Trump was leaving “to play a role in de-escalation” between Israel and Iran, hinting at US backchannel talks. But Trump fired back while still in the air, using Truth Social to accuse Macron of being “publicity-seeking” and “getting it wrong.” He added ominously: “Much bigger than that. Stay tuned.” Those five words — “much bigger than that” — have since become the focus of intense speculation. Was Trump referring to the evolving war in the Middle East? Or was he alluding to a more imminent threat — a plot that could potentially unfold within US borders? While the White House has continued to cite the Iran war as the central reason for his return, officials have notably avoided denying reports of heightened domestic threat alerts issued to major cities.&nbsp;What are sleeper cells?Sleeper cells are the term used to refer to covert operatives that are embedded in a target country with no immediate mission until activated or called to action by their operatives.These operatives often live quiet, unassuming lives, fully assimilated—working regular jobs, holding down routine roles—until they suddenly "wake up" to execute a mission. Sleeper cells are arguably the most insidious and unpredictable threat, because these operatives hide in plain sight, often invisible until it's too late.&nbsp;The US Department of Homeland Security has once again sounded the alarm on Iran's global threat posture, warning that the Islamic Republic is expected to continue sponsoring terrorism and plotting attacks against individuals, including current and former American officials. The latest assessment echoes a similar report issued by DHS under the Biden administration in 2024.&nbsp;Mike Nelson, a retired Special Forces lieutenant colonel with CENTCOM experience, told News Nation that Hezbollah has had sleeper cells in the western hemisphere for some time, including coming through Venezuela. He said that Iranians and Hezbollah have used these cells in the past, including during the Jewish Community Centre bombing in Buenos Aires in 1994.&nbsp;"It seems likely (Hezbollah and Iran) would try to activate sleeper cells in the United States as retaliation if the U.S. joins in the strikes, so it would be prudent for the FBI to be monitoring," said Nelson. According to Nelson, Iran’s regime views its survival as the endgame. "The Iranian regime wants this to end with them in power, and their primary concern is survival," he said.

Was Trump’s sudden G7 exit linked to Iranian sleeper cell threat? Report claims

When President Donald Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, a full day ahead of schedule, the official explanation was swift and stern: the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran required his immediate presence in Washington. But among diplomats and intelligence officials, a more unsettling theory quickly began to spread— one that linked Trump’s exit not just to the Middle East, but to threats much closer to home. Specifically, there were reports that Iran had activated or threatened to activate sleeper cells within the United States. Could this be the real reason behind the sudden leaving of the American president from the G7 stage? According to senior intelligence sources, chatter picked up in the days leading up to the summit suggested that Tehran, reeling from the devastation inflicted was preparing asymmetric retaliation. One threat loomed particularly large: attacks on American targets through covert operatives embedded in the West. The CIA reportedly flagged multiple signals indicating potential “active positioning” of these sleeper units. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, in a pointed remark to the press, claimed Trump was leaving “to play a role in de-escalation” between Israel and Iran, hinting at US backchannel talks. But Trump fired back while still in the air, using Truth Social to accuse Macron of being “publicity-seeking” and “getting it wrong.” He added ominously: “Much bigger than that. Stay tuned.” Those five words — “much bigger than that” — have since become the focus of intense speculation. Was Trump referring to the evolving war in the Middle East? Or was he alluding to a more imminent threat — a plot that could potentially unfold within US borders? While the White House has continued to cite the Iran war as the central reason for his return, officials have notably avoided denying reports of heightened domestic threat alerts issued to major cities. What are sleeper cells? Sleeper cells are the term used to refer to covert operatives that are embedded in a target country with no immediate mission until activated or called to action by their operatives. These operatives often live quiet, unassuming lives, fully assimilated—working regular jobs, holding down routine roles—until they suddenly "wake up" to execute a mission. Sleeper cells are arguably the most insidious and unpredictable threat, because these operatives hide in plain sight, often invisible until it's too late. The US Department of Homeland Security has once again sounded the alarm on Iran's global threat posture, warning that the Islamic Republic is expected to continue sponsoring terrorism and plotting attacks against individuals, including current and former American officials. The latest assessment echoes a similar report issued by DHS under the Biden administration in 2024. Mike Nelson, a retired Special Forces lieutenant colonel with CENTCOM experience, told News Nation that Hezbollah has had sleeper cells in the western hemisphere for some time, including coming through Venezuela. He said that Iranians and Hezbollah have used these cells in the past, including during the Jewish Community Centre bombing in Buenos Aires in 1994. "It seems likely (Hezbollah and Iran) would try to activate sleeper cells in the United States as retaliation if the U.S. joins in the strikes, so it would be prudent for the FBI to be monitoring," said Nelson. According to Nelson, Iran’s regime views its survival as the endgame. "The Iranian regime wants this to end with them in power, and their primary concern is survival," he said.

Sleeper cells are the term used to refer to covert operatives that are embedded in a target country with no immediate mission until activated

A software engineer living in New Jersey for the past 22 years was leading a double life as a “sleeper agent” for the Hezbollah militant organisation, surveying landmarks in US for terror attacks from 2000 to 2005, federal prosecutors said on Monday.

Alexei Saab, 45, of Morristown, — also known as Ali Hassan Saab, Alex Saab, or “Rachid”—had a double identity.

By the day, he was a software engineer working in big tech companies and trying to pass off as an American citizen.

By night, he was “a terrorist and spy” trying to attack Americans at popular locations if Iran was attacked by the US, said Assistant US Attorney Samuel Adelsberg, reports AP news agency.

Saab was arrested in July 2019 after being questioned during 11 sessions over several weeks with FBI agents. He remained in federal custody.

It is being claimed that Saab provided photos and other detailed intel on New York City landmarks and transportation hubs to Hezbollah in 2003.

Saab had reconned dozens of locations in New York City, including the United Nations headquarters, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, the federal offices at 26 Federal Plaza, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges, including the George Washington Bridge.

Saab joined Hezbollah in 1996, and his earliest activities with the group include spying in Lebanon on the movements of Israeli and Southern Lebanese Army soldiers, and intelligence-gathering in Istanbul, the indictment alleges.

In 2000, Saab lawfully entered the United States using a Lebanese passport, and he became a naturalised US citizen in 2008, the indictment alleges.

Meanwhile, the alleged spy’s lawyer Saab’s lawyer, Marlon Kirton, argued that all the evidence in the case was from Saab himself and could not be considered reliable, according to AP.

And he noted that Hezbollah had never attacked Americans in the United States.

Saab has pleaded not guilty to charges related to terrorism and citizenship application fraud.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A software engineer living in New Jersey for the past 22 years was leading a double life as a “sleeper agent” for the Hezbollah militant organisation, surveying landmarks in US for terror attacks from 2000 to 2005, federal prosecutors said on Monday.

A software engineer living in New Jersey for the past 22 years was leading a double life as a “sleeper agent” for the Hezbollah militant organisation, surveying landmarks in US for terror attacks from 2000 to 2005, federal prosecutors said on Monday. Alexei Saab, 45, of Morristown, — also known as Ali Hassan Saab, Alex Saab, or “Rachid”—had a double identity. By the day, he was a software engineer working in big tech companies and trying to pass off as an American citizen. By night, he was “a terrorist and spy” trying to attack Americans at popular locations if Iran was attacked by the US, said Assistant US Attorney Samuel Adelsberg, reports AP news agency. Saab was arrested in July 2019 after being questioned during 11 sessions over several weeks with FBI agents. He remained in federal custody. It is being claimed that Saab provided photos and other detailed intel on New York City landmarks and transportation hubs to Hezbollah in 2003. Saab had reconned dozens of locations in New York City, including the United Nations headquarters, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, the federal offices at 26 Federal Plaza, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges, including the George Washington Bridge. Saab joined Hezbollah in 1996, and his earliest activities with the group include spying in Lebanon on the movements of Israeli and Southern Lebanese Army soldiers, and intelligence-gathering in Istanbul, the indictment alleges. In 2000, Saab lawfully entered the United States using a Lebanese passport, and he became a naturalised US citizen in 2008, the indictment alleges. Meanwhile, the alleged spy’s lawyer Saab’s lawyer, Marlon Kirton, argued that all the evidence in the case was from Saab himself and could not be considered reliable, according to AP. And he noted that Hezbollah had never attacked Americans in the United States. Saab has pleaded not guilty to charges related to terrorism and citizenship application fraud. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

This US IT engineer was a Hezbollah agent planning terror attacks in New York

NIA: JeM terrorist Sajjad Khan was recruiting sleeper cells in Delhi-NCR

The death toll from a suicide bombing in a Baghdad shopping district has risen to over 150, fueling calls for security forces to crack down on Islamic State sleeper cells blamed for one of the worst ever single bombings in Iraq. 
 
Numbers rose as bodies were recovered from the rubble in the Karrada area of Baghdad, where a refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up on Saturday night when people were out celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. 
 
The toll in Karrada stood at 151 killed and 200 wounded by midday on Monday, according to police and medical sources. Rescuers and families were still looking for 35 missing people. 
 
Islamic State claimed the attack, saying it was a suicide bombing. Another explosion struck in the same night, when a roadside bomb blew up in popular market of al-Shaab, a Shi&#39;ite district in north Baghdad, killing two people. 
 
The attacks cast a shadow over victory statements made last month by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi&#39;s government, after Iraqi forces dislodged Islamic State from Falluja, the stronghold of the ultra-hardline Sunni insurgents near Baghdad. 
 
Government officials ordered the offensive on Falluja in May after a series of deadly bombings in Shi&#39;ite areas of Baghdad that they said originated from Falluja, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the capital. 
 
&quot;Abadi has to have a meeting with the heads of national security, intelligence, the interior ministry and all sides responsible for security and ask them just one question: How can we infiltrate these groups?&quot; said Abdul Kareem Khalaf, a former police Major General who advises the Netherlands-based European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies think tank. 
 
In a sign of public outrage at the failure of the security services, Abadi was given an angry reception on Sunday when he toured Karrada, the district where he grew up, with residents throwing stones, empty buckets and even slippers at his convoy in gestures of contempt. 
 
He ordered new measures to protect Baghdad, starting with the withdrawal of fake bomb detectors that police have continued to use despite a scandal that broke out in 2011 about their sale to Iraq under his predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki. 
 
The hand-held devices were initially developed to find lost golf balls, and the British businessman who sold them to Iraq for $40 million was jailed in Britain in 2013. 
 
Abadi ordered that the fake devices be replaced by efficient detectors at the entrances to Baghdad and Iraq&#39;s provinces. 
 
Karrada, a largely Shi&#39;ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques, was busy at the time of the blast as people were eating out and shopping late during Ramadan, which ends this week with the Eid al-Fitr festival. 
 
Falluja was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. 
 
(Reuters)

Residents expressed outrage at the failure of the security services by throwing stones, empty buckets and even slippers at PM Abadi's convoy

The death toll from a suicide bombing in a Baghdad shopping district has risen to over 150, fueling calls for security forces to crack down on Islamic State sleeper cells blamed for one of the worst ever single bombings in Iraq. Numbers rose as bodies were recovered from the rubble in the Karrada area of Baghdad, where a refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up on Saturday night when people were out celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. The toll in Karrada stood at 151 killed and 200 wounded by midday on Monday, according to police and medical sources. Rescuers and families were still looking for 35 missing people. Islamic State claimed the attack, saying it was a suicide bombing. Another explosion struck in the same night, when a roadside bomb blew up in popular market of al-Shaab, a Shi'ite district in north Baghdad, killing two people. The attacks cast a shadow over victory statements made last month by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government, after Iraqi forces dislodged Islamic State from Falluja, the stronghold of the ultra-hardline Sunni insurgents near Baghdad. Government officials ordered the offensive on Falluja in May after a series of deadly bombings in Shi'ite areas of Baghdad that they said originated from Falluja, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the capital. "Abadi has to have a meeting with the heads of national security, intelligence, the interior ministry and all sides responsible for security and ask them just one question: How can we infiltrate these groups?" said Abdul Kareem Khalaf, a former police Major General who advises the Netherlands-based European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies think tank. In a sign of public outrage at the failure of the security services, Abadi was given an angry reception on Sunday when he toured Karrada, the district where he grew up, with residents throwing stones, empty buckets and even slippers at his convoy in gestures of contempt. He ordered new measures to protect Baghdad, starting with the withdrawal of fake bomb detectors that police have continued to use despite a scandal that broke out in 2011 about their sale to Iraq under his predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki. The hand-held devices were initially developed to find lost golf balls, and the British businessman who sold them to Iraq for $40 million was jailed in Britain in 2013. Abadi ordered that the fake devices be replaced by efficient detectors at the entrances to Baghdad and Iraq's provinces. Karrada, a largely Shi'ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques, was busy at the time of the blast as people were eating out and shopping late during Ramadan, which ends this week with the Eid al-Fitr festival. Falluja was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

Iraqis want crackdown on 'sleeper cells' after suicide attack in Baghdad

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