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Headley chose target
Investigations into the Pune blasts have confirmed that Pakistan-born US citizen David Headley had identified German Bakery as a potential target during his two visits to Pune and hope to get a breakthrough “very soon”.
Investigations into the Pune blasts have confirmed that Pakistan-born US citizen David Headley had identified German Bakery as a potential target during his two visits to Pune and hope to get a breakthrough “very soon”.
The operation — drawn up by the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba leadership in Pakistan — was, however, executed by a local terror module that planted the ammonium nitrate and RDX cocktail in German Bakery.
Nearly 50 people are being questioned in Pune, many more across the country, a government source said, pointing that the Maharashtra anti-terror squads had even positioned its men in “sensitive locations”, places that people on their suspect list have been known to visit.
“Investigations are on the right track… in the right direction,” a senior home ministry official said, emphasising that the security agencies had broadly identified the people who were involved.
Home Secretary GK Pillai had recently acknowledged that Headley’s two visits to Pune may not be a coincidence.
On Wednesday, home ministry officials said it was increasingly becoming clear that plans for Saturday evening’s explosion that killed 11 people were firmed up on the basis of Headley’s recce.
Headley, a Lashkar operative, had in 2008-09 twice visited Osho Ashram near the German Bakery in Koregaon Park.
