The Italian police on Saturday arrested two Pakistani nationals for their alleged involvement in the November 26, 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The police alleged that the arrested father and son duo — Mohammad Yaqub Janjua, 60, and Aamer Yaqub Janjua, 31 — was running a money transfer service which was reportedly used by the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to make phone calls.
According to the Italian police, the two suspects ran the money transfer service in the northern Italian city of Brescia. The duo was arrested in an early morning raid in Brescia.
The arrested suspects are accused of having carried out a money transfer under a false name to pay fees for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service. The duo allegedly transferred $229 on November 25, 2008, the day before the attacks in Mumbai. This money was used to activate the internet phone account that was used by the terrorists and their handlers to keep in touch during the three-day terror attack. Three other suspects arrested for “other illegal activities,” may have connections with the Pakistani duo, said Italian police.
In another development, US investigators have zeroed in on a Pakistani national who is suspected to be a key link between LeT operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.The US also believes some elements in ISI could be linked to Headley.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police said that it was awaiting word on the arrests. “We have not yet received any official communication in this regard,” said additional commissioner of police, crime, Deven Bharti.
A Mumbai police official however said that the name of one Javed Iqbal, an Italian national of Pakistani origin, had cropped up during the investigation. “Iqbal may have helped in funding this terror operation. He was detained by the Italian police soon after his name cropped up in the case, but was later let off. It is believed that those picked up now in Italy were known to Iqbal,” said the officer.
