Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SR)

Mumbai, Jul 25: According to an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) charge sheet filed in a Mumbai court, members of an ISIS-linked terror group arrested from Maharashtra in January for allegedly planning mass killing at a temple, were inspired by speeches of controversial Islamic  televangelist Zakir Naik.

ATS said the members of group had tried to poison the temple's 'maha prasad' (holy food), and they also underwent training for making explosives and participated in blast trials at a hill near the Mumbra bypass in Thane district.

Ten members of Ummat-E-Mohammaddiya terror group allegedly linked to ISIS, were arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in January this year and foiled their plans of mass-casualty attacks using poisonous chemical mixtures at big gatherings.

The ATS, earlier this month after a detailed investigation filed a charge sheet at a Mumbai court saying "the accused were inspired by speeches of (Zakir) Naik", against whom charges of money laundering have been filed by the Enforcement Directorate''. The agency also found the terror suspects, through their social media accounts, had posted videos and images of Zakir Naik. "The group members had also obtained information through the internet and social media about making explosives and poison and conducted blast trials in hills near the Mumbra bypass," the official said.

A senior ATS official said, "The group had planned mass killing of devotees at the 400-year-old Shree Mumbreshwar Temple at Mumbra by poisoning the maha prasad there. A spiritual event Shreemadh Bhagwat Katha, was organised in December last year at the temple, where thousands of devotees consumed the prasad,'' the official added.

As per ATS, the leader of the terror group Ummat-E-Mohammaddiya was identitfied as Abu Hamza who conducted the blast trials.