Plot to attack US embassy unearthed

Detective branch of police Wednesday night arrested three suspected Lashkar-e-Taiyeba (LeT) leaders from a madrasa in Chittagong in connection with a plot to attack the US embassy in Dhaka.

The detained are identified as Mufti Harun Izahar, 33, son of Mufti Izaharul Islam who is the ameer of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote, Shahidul Islam, 26, and Al Amin alias Saiful.

They have reportedly worked also for Harkatul Jihad al Islam (Huji), another banned Islamic outfit.

One of the arrestees has claimed that he hailed from Bhola district while another from Mymensingh. But they could not show any documents, DB sources said.

Deputy Commissioner of DB (South) Md Monirul Islam told The Daily Star that they had picked up the militants from Lalkhan Bazar Madrasa located on the top of a hill and founded by Mufti Izahar.

The arrestees were taken to Dhaka last night and would be produced before court today.

The DC also said they had caught the LeT men on information provided by an Indian born US national and a Pakistan born US national. They were arrested in the US recently on charges of attempt to attack on the establishments including embassies of the US, UK and India in different countries.

Monirul Islam also said they have the evidence that all the three suspected militants have visited the US embassy area last week as part of their attack plan.

Replying to a query, he also said Pakistani nationals Abdur Rahman, detained in Pakistan this week for militant link, and Abdulla Rehan have transferred Tk 6 lakh to the account of Mufti Harun's brother Faizur Rahman.

The DC said the arrestees had made several calls to some Pakistani militant leaders over their cellphones.

During the primary interrogation, all the three persons admitted their Huji links as well as with the LeT, DB sources said.

DB also said that the madrasa at Lalkhan Bazar played a leading role in putting a bounty on the head of late poet Shamsur Rahman in 1998.