DNA samples from car match those of 26/11 terrorists: Expert

A forensics expert today said DNA samples taken from articles recovered from the car used by the terrorists who perpetrated the November 26 Mumbai attacks last year matched the genetic footprints of one of the slain terrorists, Abu Ismael.

The samples were taken from a weapon, blood and jacket belonging to Ismael collected from the stolen Skoda car, the witness told special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

The expert further said that DNA samples taken from terror sites — Nariman House, Hotel Taj and Hotel Oberoi — also matched those of the slain terrorists.

The prosecution will tomorrow examine a witness whose father died when a bomb exploded in a taxi. Lone surviving terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab and slain terrorist Abu Ismael had planted a bomb in a taxi, which they left at CST.

The same taxi was hired by an advocate who did not board a Hyderabad-bound train because of the terror strike at CST, and decided to go to his daughter's home in Kandivali. The bomb exploded near Vile Parle, killing the taxi driver and the advocate.