The units of the Delhi Police Special Cell, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Uttar Pradesh' Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained Dr Mohammed Arif Mir in Kanpur over his alleged links with Delhi's Red Fort Blast accused Dr Shaheen Shahid and other suspects.
According to the reports, Dr Mir, a suspect and cardiologist, was detained for questioning on Thursday. Dr Mir had reportedly been in contact with Dr Shaheen Shahid and other suspects named in the blast.
It is reported that he had also visited Dr Shaheen in Kanpur a few days before the blast.
Arif is reportedly from the Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag and pursued his education at Al Falah University in Faridabad.
He joined GSVM Medical College in Kanpur Five months ago.
Meanwhile, multiple security agencies are on the lookout for a third car believed to be linked to the Red Fort blast case, police sources told news agency PTI on Thursday.
While a white Hyundai i20 exploded near Red Fort on Monday evening, killing at least 13 people and injuring over 25 others, investigators later traced a second vehicle -- a red Ford EcoSport -- to Faridabad.
However, a third car, suspected to be a Maruti Brezza, remains untraced.
"The missing third car is suspected to have been used by the accused for reconnaissance or escape. Multiple teams are looking for the third car," PTI reported citing a source.
Searches are being carried out in Delhi-NCR and adjoining states to locate the Maruti Brezza, he said.
Intelligence agencies on Thursday revealed a larger terror conspiracy, with ANI sources saying that the suspects had allegedly planned to prepare around 32 old vehicles with explosives to carry out coordinated attacks across multiple locations.
According to intelligence agency sources, reported ANI, the ongoing investigation has expanded after it was found that the accused had already begun work on modifying an i20 and an EcoSport vehicle for potential use in the attacks. Investigators are now examining whether other similar vehicles were being readied as part of a broader plan to execute serial blasts.
"After the i20 and EcoSport, it came to light that preparations were underway to ready 32 more old vehicles which could be fitted with explosives," an intelligence source told ANI.
Further, Investigation agencies informed that around eight suspects were allegedly preparing to execute coordinated explosions at four locations, with each pair assigned to a specific target city.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the accused groups had intended to move in pairs, each carrying multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for simultaneous attacks. Among those under scrutiny are individuals linked to past terror cases, including Red Fort blast accused Dr Muzammil, Dr Adeel, Dr Umar, and Shaheen.
With inputs from agencies
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