A week before India celebrates its Republic Day, security agencies in Mumbai and other airports in the country have been put on high alert following an intelligence input from the Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS).
Somali terror groups like al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) will use India as a transit point to go to the US and Europe, and launch terror attacks there, the alert said.
Airport authorities and airlines have been instructed to beef up security, especially on flights originating to and from the Gulf.
According to a recent circular issued by the BCAS, several Somali nationals with ties to al Shabaab have been attempting to travel to the US from Yemen with genuine passports and fake US visas during the holiday season.
“There is a possibility that such activity could originate in or transit through India,” the alert stated.
It further mentioned that the terrorists are more interested in planning aviation attacks in the US, Europe and other countries outside Yemen.
“They are looking for creative ways to smuggle explosives to further their plans,” according to the alert. As such, the BCAS which has sent the circular to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Airport Authority of India (AAI), state police and the airline security, has asked them to look for everyday items like printer cartridges, cameras and even thermos flasks.
There is a possibility that they will conceal the explosive material between the inner glass sheet and the outer cover of the thermos bottles.
The CISF and airlines have beefed up security at various airports in the country, including Mumbai.
“The CISF is conducting random checks at all entry points of the airport. Our men, dressed in civil clothes, are also keeping a close watch on passengers,” a CISF official said. “Manual frisking of passengers and handbags has also been increased from the usual 30% mark.”
Source: www.dnaindia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment