Noida: A man who threatened to carry out large-scale bombings in Mumbai on Anant Chaturdashi has been arrested by Noida Police. The accused, identified as Ashwini, is originally from Bihar and has been residing in Noida for the past five years.
Ashwini was nabbed in Sector-113, Noida, and later handed over to Mumbai Police. On Thursday, he had sent a message to Mumbai Police’s official WhatsApp number, claiming that 34 vehicles loaded with explosives had been planted across the city, warning of blasts that would “kill one crore people.”
The threat message claimed that 34 “human bombs” had been deployed and that 400 kg of RDX would be used. It also alleged that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered Mumbai and were part of the plot. The sender identified himself as a member of a Pakistan-based jihadi outfit named “Lashkar-e-Jihadi.”
Police have recovered a mobile phone from the accused and are investigating his motives. Initially, he reportedly described himself as an astrologer.
“Mumbai Police is on high alert, and security across Maharashtra has been tightened,” officials said, adding that all angles of the threat are being probed.
The threat came during Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Mumbai, with Anant Chaturdashi the final day of the celebrations scheduled for today.
