QUETTA, Jan 9: The police have arrested an accused involved in shooting at a newspaper editor and threatening the BBC correspondent and other newsmen.

Balochistan police inspector general said at a press conference here on Wednesday that the accused had admitted opening fire on Majeed Asghar, editor of an Urdu daily, and threatening BBC Correspondent Haroon Rashid.

“The accused belongs to the terrorist group responsible for rocket attacks and bomb blasts in Quetta during the last two years,” he said.

He said the weapon used in firing on the car of the senior journalist had been recovered from a place pointed out by the accused. The motive for the attack was to cause harm to his person and to spread panic, he said.

The IG said three teams had been formed for investigating the incidents, around 20 suspects were interrogated and movements of Mr Asghar and others were kept under surveillance.

He said the accused was arrested on Tuesday in Quetta. However, his name is being kept confidential.

He said investigations about terrorists linked to Indian intelligence agency RAW were continuing.