Coimbatore car blast case: NIA searches 43 locations, seizes digital devices, documents

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched 43 locations in Tamil Nadu on Thursday in connection with the Coimbatore car blast case. Digital devices and incriminating documents were seized from the houses of the suspects during the searches, which started at 6 am, said a statement from the NIA.

“According to preliminary investigations, Jamesha Mubeen (who was killed in the car blast on October 23), after taking bayath/oath to ISIS, was planning to carry out a suicidal attack and cause extensive damage to symbols and monuments of a particular religious faith and with the intention to strike terror among a particular section of community,” the NIA statement said.

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The statement said six persons who had been arrested so far had conspired with Mubeen to procure different chemicals and other ingredients for fabrication of improvised explosive devices, including a vehicle-borne IED, from online shopping platforms to commit sensational terrorist acts.

“All individuals being searched were in contact with Mubeen. We are looking into what led them to communicate frequently with Mubeen,” an officer told The Indian Express, adding no political connections between the people being searched have yet been established.