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Deccan Mujahideen threatens to attack airports

     Lahore: The Deccan Mujahideen group that claimed responsibility for last week's terror attacks in Mumbai has now threatened to attack New Delhi, Banglore and Chennai airports between December 3 and 7. According to a Daily Times report, the threat was given through an e-mail sent from Saudi Arabia and received by Indira Gandhi Airport officials.

    Security at all the Indian airports was put on high alert after the e-mail. Earlier, on November 26, the little known group had claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks that left almost 200 people dead. Most spy agencies around the world are reportedly clueless about the antecedents of the Deccan Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the planned and synchronized terror strikes in Mumbai. "Initially we saw violence in India imported from outside - with allegations of Pakistani government support - but now we are seeing new, homegrown groups," CBS quoted Nigel Inkster, director of Transnational Threats at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, as saying last week. "There is a possible link to al Qaeda. Logically it would be easier for al Qaeda to get things done in India than in the U.S. and Europe. Everyone's been expecting some type of pre-US election or post-US election spectacular, and there is some speculation that this is it," he added.

    A foreign news agency quoted a British security official as saying that terror threats in India had been increasing but the scale of the attack on Wednesday was a surprise and there were no indications attacks would target Westerners. "We have been actively monitoring plots in Britain and abroad and there was nothing to indicate something like this was about to happen," the official told the AP news agency. CBS News reported that U.S. officials had not heard of Deccan Mujahideen before Wednesday. Another British security official told AP that, though it is too early to know for sure, the attack doesn't look to have been directed by al Qaeda's core leadership. But he said the fact Westerners had been singled out suggested it was inspired by Islamic extremist ideology. A U.S. counter-terrorism official warned against leaping to conclusions but said the Mumbai attacks bore some hallmarks of operations by Pakistani groups.

Security beefed up at airports across India

     Delhi/Mumbai: India declared a security alert at three major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore on Thursday following warnings from intelligence agencies. The security alert comes in the wake of intelligence inputs that militants of Pakistan or Afghanistan origin may strike these installations by this weekend ahead of the anniversary of Babri mosque demolition. Passengers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport did not mind the security checks and said that it was necessary in the wake of the recent terror attacks "The security is good. I do not feel that there will be a problem this time.," said Paras Shah, a passenger. Strict security measures were in place at 'Chatrapati Shivaji Airport' in Mumbai also. The security forces have been deployed in and around the airport to take care of any unforeseen event. The passengers at the airport appeared at ease with the tightened security measures. "I am feeling fine. Actually I don't know what the feeling is like on the streets. The security at the airports seem to be very good," said Suizen, a passenger from Australia. Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major assured the nation that India is well prepared to counter any air strike. "This is based on a warning, and we are prepared to tackle any such possibilities as usual," he added. Anti-sabotage teams have already been deployed at these airports.

Terrorists planning aerial attacks: Air chief

     New Delhi: The Union Government has received intelligence inputs about a possible9/11 type terror strike from the air. 'Terrorists' plans to carry out a 9/11-type aerial attack on targets in India', Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said on Thursday in New Delhi. "This is based on a warning, and we are prepared to tackle any such possibilities as usual," Major informed the reporters. He said the issue was also discussed during the meeting of the three service chiefs with Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday. Meanwhile,all major airports in the country,including Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai have been put on high alert in the wake of intelligence inputs that terrorists of Pakistani or Afghanistan origin may strike these installations at weekend during the 16th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya . Anti-sabotage teams have already been deployed at these airports. Defence Minister A K Antony has warned the armed forces about the possibility of terror attacks from airborne platforms. Antony has called for greater coordination among security and intelligence agencies to make the intelligence inputs actionable. The Defense Minister has demanded a tight vigil along India's coastal, land and aerial frontiers to foil any terror attack.
- Dec 4, 2008

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