Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Sabhauddin, alleged to be behind the attack on the Indian Institute of Science along with prime accused Abu Hamza, has revealed that their initial plan was to attack the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bangalore.
Sabhauddin, who was arrested in Lucknow on Sunday, is also considered to be the man who triggered the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force camp in Uttar Pradesh on New Year's Day.
During his stay in Bangalore, Sabhauddin, a student of Presidency College in the city, visited the ISRO campus on numerous occasions. It was during this time that he came in contact with Abu Hamza, the main accused in the IISc attack.
He allowed Hamza to stay at his rented place, which was near the college campus and together they planned the attack on the IISc.
Sabhauddin decided against an attack on the ISRO, as he failed to break through the security cordon. The terrorist said he had been assigned the job of conducting an attack at ISRO and hence he strived day and night to break through the security. They had planned to load RDX in a jeep and ram it into the building. However, the plan had to be dropped due to the tight security.
He further told interrogators that he along with Hamza then planned an attack at the IISc. However, it was done in a hurried manner and hence, the desired results were not achieved. Immediately after the attack, Hamza left for Nepal and from there he slipped into Pakistan.
The Bangalore police have secured a body warrant and will bring Sabhauddin to the city soon. The terrorist may be interrogated by both Hyderabad as well as Bangalore cops. The police, apart from trying to get more information on the IISc case, will also try to verify the whereabouts of Shahid Bilal, the man who many consider is the mastermind behind both IISc attack and the Hyderabad blasts.
The police now say that the cases are interlinked.
Nasir had revealed that he was behind the Hyderabad blasts and had planted a bomb at the Lumbini Park in which 11 people were killed and several others were injured.