Delhi Terror Plot: Suspects Planned 26/11-Style Attack with 200 IEDs Targeting Multiple Landmarks

The terrorists were plotting to trigger communal unrest by targeting religious locations, according to intelligence sources.

New Delhi:

Sources have informed NDTV that the terrorists intended to execute a series of coordinated attacks in Delhi similar to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, just two days after an explosion near Red Fort claimed nine lives. Investigations into Monday evening's blast have uncovered plans targeting prominent Delhi landmarks including Red Fort, India Gate, Constitution Club, and Gauri Shankar Temple, alongside planned attacks at railway stations and shopping centers throughout the country.

During the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks, synchronized shootings and bombings occurred at 12 different locations, including the Taj Mahal Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Leopold Hospital.

The Delhi Conspiracy

The Delhi terror plot had been developing since January. Intelligence sources revealed that the terror module, suspected to have connections to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, had been meticulously planning the attack for months. The group was preparing approximately 200 powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) intended for high-profile targets not only in Delhi but also in neighboring Gurugram and Faridabad.

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Sources indicate that the terrorists were conspiring to inflame communal tensions by targeting religious sites. They recruited several radicalized doctors from Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically chosen for their "white collar" background that provided effective cover. These individuals quickly established a base of operations in Faridabad.

Their medical profession allowed them to move throughout the National Capital Region without arousing suspicion. They subsequently rented accommodations in the Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga areas to store explosives, where their activities remained undetected.

The Suspects

Currently in custody are three doctors: Shaheen Saeed, Muzammil Shakeel Ganale, and Adeel Rather. Dr. Umar Nabi is believed to be the suicide bomber who perished in the November 10 blast. Three additional doctors who worked with Dr. Saeed at Al-Falah University in Faridabad were detained but are expected to be released.

Read: Delhi Blast Suspects Planned Diwali Attack, Aborted It Later: Sources

CCTV footage revealed that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 car in slow-moving traffic during evening rush hour near the Red Fort Metro Station. The high-intensity blast killed nine people and injured nearly two dozen others.

According to sources quoting Muzammil, who was arrested with 2,900 kg of explosives used in bomb-making, the terrorists had originally planned to strike a crowded area during Diwali, but that attack was not executed.

Both Saeed and Muzammil worked at Al-Falah and had maintained contact. Saeed was apprehended after authorities discovered an assault rifle and ammunition in her vehicle. Further investigation revealed she was responsible for establishing the women's brigade of Jaish-e-Mohammad.