PESHAWAR: The local police on Friday claimed they had arrested the suspected handler of a suicide bomber, who killed ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour in the city in Dec 2012.

They also insisted the suspect had confessed to being involved in the killing and many other heinous crimes.

“We have captured a terrorist, Fazal Mohammad. He was the main handler of Farooq, who killed Bashir Bilour in a suicide blast. He kept the bomber in his house for two days before sending him to target Bashir Bilour,” an official of the police’s counter-terrorism department told Dawn here.

He said the bomber’s handler belonged to Afridi tribe of Khyber Agency and had been living in Peshawar city for many years.

The official said the arrested man used to help terrorists reach targets in the provincial capital.

“The (bomber’s) handler is associated with terrorist groups and has a role in around 50 terrorist activities. He has so far admitted to being involved in many heinous crimes,” he said.

The official said the department had achieved ‘significant’ success in the investigation into attacks on All Saints Church, Imamia Mosque Hayatabad Township and Army Public School and that efforts were underway to arrest those behind those terrorist activities.

Also in the day, the local police held a suspected terrorist.

A police official said Alamzeb, who had Rs0.5 million bounty on his head and belonged to Sepah tribe of Khyber Agency, was arrested in Sufaid Dheri area of Peshawar.

He said the arrested man was wanted for various terrorist attacks in Peshawar and adjoining tribal and settled areas.

SUSPECTS HELD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Friday claimed they arrested 538 suspects and seized arms and ammunitions during search and strike operations in the province on Thursday and Friday.

A spokesman said the police seized 28 weapons of different kinds and bore and checked 505 houses and 279 hotels during search and strike operations.

He said 44 Afghan nationals were also held for failing to produce valid documents for stay in the country.

SUICIDE VESTS SEIZED: Security agencies on Friday seized five suicide vests from a nullah in Khyber Agency’s Shalobar area bordering Hayatabad Township.

A statement issued here by the information department said security agencies frequently received information over the last several days about the possible entry of 10 suicide bombers to Peshawar and therefore, security was put on high alert.

It said in light of tight security arrangements, terrorists concealed suicide vests in a nullah, which were seized and defused by security forces.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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