Terrorist network led by Indian national disrupted in France

[News_Editor]

Terrorist network led by Indian national disrupted in France

2011-05-26 23:36:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistani authorities on Thursday announced that a terrorist network led by an Indian national was disrupted by French authorities thanks to intelligence data from Pakistan, the APP news agency reported.

The terror cell was detained on May 10 at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport as the group leader was returning from a recruiting trip to Algeria. The alleged terrorist was identified as Mohammad Niaz Abdul Rasheed, an Indian national.

Overall, the National French Police arrested seven individuals, including 33-year-old Abdul Rasheed, suspected of being involved with the terrorist cell. The detentions were possible due to Pakistani information passed to French counter terrorism authorities.

Abdul Rasheed, of Madurai, lived in India until 2008 when the moved to France. While in the European country, he married a local woman in order to acquire French nationality.

When he was 21 years old, Abdul Rasheed allegedly joined the Manitha Neethi Parasai group, part of the broader Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and predecessor of Indian Popular Front (IPF).

Once in France, he began organizing a terrorist cell, the French Popular Front (FPF). He intended to gather a group of young people to fight foreign coalition troops in Afghanistan, in support to the Taliban.

In January, two French nationals were arrested by authorities as they attempted to fly to Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the seven members in France.

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