Mira Road ‘lone wolf’ terror attack: Suspect was self-radicalised, wanted to target Hindus, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the Mira Road “lone wolf” terror attack suspect was self-radicalised and allegedly wanted to target Hindu community members in the name of jihad.

The Maharashtra CM further stated that the investigators recovered incriminating material from his residence.

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“This appears to be a case of self-radicalisation. Some books and incriminating material were recovered from the accused’s residence. He lived in the United States and had recently returned. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was radicalised and had a desire to attack members of the Hindu community in the name of jihad, which led him to carry out this incident,” Fadnavis said, according to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) of Maharashtra.

The Chief Minister said that the Anti-Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are probing the attack.

“The case is currently being investigated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency, and the state government is providing full cooperation to these agencies. The scope of the investigation will not be limited to the accused, but it will also investigate the individuals or networks behind his radicalisation. The entire case will be thoroughly investigated to uncover any possible conspiracy,” he added.

At least two guards were injured after the accused, Jabar Zubair Ansari, attacked them with sharp weapons. The injured have been hospitalised for medical treatment.

According to reports, 31-year-old Ansari, who had recently returned from the US, had approached the guards on the pretext of asking for directions.

He initially went ahead but returned to inquire about their religion. The accused also reportedly asked one of the guards to recite the Islamic Kalima and when he failed, he attacked them with a sharp weapon.

Within hours of the attack, the investigators managed to arrest Ansari, who is a science graduate and lived in the United States for several years. He returned to India after losing his job in the US and lived alone in the Mira Road area. He was also a teacher and provided online chemistry coaching.

The investigators found some handwritten notes from his residence. In the notes, he had expressed his desire to join ISIS and described the attack as his first step towards joining the terrorist organisation.