Pakistan says it has arrested 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed

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Pakistan says it has arrested 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed
Pakistani authorities have arrested Hafiz Saeed — one of India’s most wanted terrorists and the mastermind behind 26/11 Mumbai attacks today, said Geo Television.
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Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba — the militant group held responsible for killing 166 in a four-day- attack on Mumbai in 2008.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested Saeed while he was travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala. However, the details are yet awaited on the charges he was arrested for. The CTD officials are expected to hold a news conference later in the day regarding the arrest.

Mumbai terror attacks


On November 26, 2008, a group of Pakistani gunmen launched a series of attacks at prominent various locations of Mumbai like Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, CST station, the Trident Hotel, Leopold Cafe and Nariman House at a Jewish area.

The attack which lasted for four days, killed at least 160 people including foreigners and wounded over 300. The epicentre of the terror attack was the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel that stood overlooking Gateway of India monument. At least 31 people were reported dead during the incident inside the hotel.
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Only one of the ten terrorists who arrived into the country, was captured alive. Ajmal Amir Kasab was later tried and hanged for his crimes.

Arrest & Release

Hafiz Saeed is known to have masterminded the attack where the terrorists arrived into the city via a boat. He was placed under house arrest by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department in September 2009. However, he was cleared of all charges a month later and allowed to move freely.

In January 2017, Saeed was placed under house arrest for disturbing peace and security, but released in November the same year after the Lahore High Court concluded that there was "nothing tangible" in the evidence presented against him.

After his January 2017 arrest, his charity, JuD, rebranded itself as Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK). India had been protesting against Saeed’s exoneration from his crimes.

(With IANS)
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