Text messages that warned of 26/11-like attack came from number with Pak code: Mumbai police chief


PTI, Aug 20, 2022, 4:20 PM IST

The text messages received by the Mumbai police threatening a ”26/11-like” attack in Mumbai came from a phone number that carried the country code of Pakistan, city Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that after receiving the messages, the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the city police personnel have been put on alert. ”Police received messages around 11.30 pm on Friday, which threatened that a 26/11-like attack would be carried out in Mumbai and the city would be blown up. There was a mention of 26/11 attacks terrorist Ajmal Kasab and (deceased) Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in the messages,” he said. ”It was also mentioned that some of their aides are working in India. Prima facie, the threat messages came from a number that has the country code of Pakistan,” Phansalkar said.

Police have taken the messages seriously, he said while assuring that citizens’ safety and security was their responsibility. ”Necessary measures are being taken to investigate the threat messages. We are alert on coastal security and are coordinating with the Coast Guard,” he added.

‘Sagar Kavach’ operation has been launched and coastal security been beefed up, the police commissioner said. Process to register the first information report (FIR) at Worli police station in on, Phansalkar said.

Earlier in the day, a city police official said that the text messages were received on the WhatsApp number of the Mumbai traffic police’s helpline operated from its control room located at Worli.

One of the messages said that six people will execute the attack, while another mentioned that preparations were on to blow up Mumbai, which would revive the memories of the 26/11 attacks, he said.

In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country’s history, 166 people were killed and more than 300 other injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The threat messages were received a day after a yacht was found off the Raigad coast near Mumbai with AK-47 rifles and live rounds on board, causing a scare, although officials maintained that there was no terror angle in it.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Want to serve Wayanad, just like mother looks after children: Priyanka Gandhi

Karkala: Suspicion of Naxal Activity Triggers Massive Search Operation by ANF in Eedu

Music transcends language barriers: Thaikkudam Bridge

Probe into cases related to Hema Committee report progressing well: Kerala HC

Centre doubles fines for stubble burning

Indian consulate in Canada cancels consular camps due over security issues

Recruitment rules for govt jobs can’t be changed midway unless prescribed: SC

Related Articles More

Want to serve Wayanad, just like mother looks after children: Priyanka Gandhi

Allegations of worm-infested food kits for landslide survivors spark violent protest in Wayanad

Probe into cases related to Hema Committee report progressing well: Kerala HC

Centre doubles fines for stubble burning

Encounter in J-K’s Kupwara, terrorist killed

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Want to serve Wayanad, just like mother looks after children: Priyanka Gandhi

Allegations of worm-infested food kits for landslide survivors spark violent protest in Wayanad

Karkala: Suspicion of Naxal Activity Triggers Massive Search Operation by ANF in Eedu

Music transcends language barriers: Thaikkudam Bridge

Probe into cases related to Hema Committee report progressing well: Kerala HC

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.