Security agencies are on high alert after receiving inputs from central intelligence agencies that al-Qaeda could carry out an attack in Mumbai
Security agencies are on high alert after receiving inputs from central intelligence agencies that al-Qaeda could carry out an attack in the city. The inputs assume high significance as they come in the wake of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Three alerts came in three days prompting authorities to beef up security.
Union home minister P Chidambaram, who was in town on Monday, held a meeting with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, senior ministers and police officials, a day before the completion of the second month after the 13/7 Mumbai blasts.
According to sources, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) sent inputs that the al-Qaeda planned to carry out an attack using small aircraft and charter planes. The input said Qaeda wanted to send a message that the outfit was alive and kicking.
“It says that nations friendly to the US can be targeted by Qaeda,” said an intelligence official. He refused to elaborate.
A second alert was sounded by the city police on Tuesday, asking the police machinery to carry out searches on buses that would be heading for Gujarat as terrorist elements were likely to sneak into Gujarat to carry out terrorist attack/s.
“We have received three alerts in past three days, while one alert from IB says that small aircraft or charter planes can be misused by terrorist elements, another alert says buses going to Gujarat have to be thoroughly checked as terrorists might use them. It is not clear as to whether they would travel by bus to Gujarat or plant an explosive. There is also a threat to the Bombay Stock Exchange, following which security has been beefed up there,” said an IPS officer.
Meanwhile, security at the Mumbai airport was tightened on Tuesday. The Mumbai air traffic control (ATC) said it will be careful, and will look for abnormalities in aircraft movement. Security at the general aviation (GA) terminal, Kalina has also been upped. “If any deviation in aircraft movement is observed we will alert the Indian Air Force,” said a senior official of Mumbai airport. The ATC will be on extra alert to spot any unknown aircraft whose flight plan details are not known with it.
It is from the GA terminal from where charters and choppers take off and land. “Earlier the passengers boarding these flights just had to flash their boarding card. Now all passengers whether they are industrialists or anybody will also have to produce identity cards,” said a private charter operator. “There is double frisking of passengers both at the gate and at the terminal. Vehicles are also double-checked. Passengers manifesto (details) is also being sent to the IB.”
Security at both domestic (Santa Cruz) and international (Sahar) terminals has been tightened. “We have increased city-side deployment of personnel and our men in plainclothes will be present both inside and outside airport terminal buildings. Our men will be doing passenger profiling to identify potential threats and will also conduct thorough check of hand/cabin luggage. Similarly, all vehicles entering the airport will be randomly stopped and checked,” said a senior central industrial security force official.
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