NEW DELHI, Dec 22: India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi’s security detail has been put on high alert after a home ministry warning of a possible attack by an Al Qaeda-backed group, a report said on Friday.

The United Jihad Council, which the ministry believes was formed by Al Qaeda and supported by the Inter-Services Intelligence, is aiming to attack Ms Gandhi, the Times of India reported.

“The Special Protection Group, Delhi police and other agencies have been told about the threat, not just during Sonia's election campaigns in Uttar Pradesh but also in the city,” a source told the newspaper.

Her security detail was notified about the threat in a letter from the head of VIP security for the home ministry, the report said.—AFP