Coimbatore Car Bomb Blast: NIA Arrests Another Accused In ISIS-Inspired Terror Attack

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused in the October 2022 Coimbatore car bomb blast case, in which the suicide bomber was killed.

"The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another person in the ISISI-inspired Car bomb blast case of Coimbatore, in which the prime accused was killed in the terror explosion triggered by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED)," the agency said in a statement on Wednesday (2 August).

The accused identified as Mohammad Idris, a resident of Coimbatore, has been arrested for conspiring with other accused persons to commit the terror attack, which took place in front of the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam in Coimbatore on 23 October 2022.

The vehicle carrying the improvised explosive device was driven by the deceased Jamesha Mubeen, with whom Idris was closely associated, the NIA said.

“Idris was part of secret conspiracy meetings with Mubeen and other accused persons in planning the terror attack,” the NIA said.

NIA investigations have revealed that Mubeen was inspired and motivated by hardcore Islamic State (IS) ideology and had committed the terror attack after promising allegiance to the terrorist organisation’s self-proclaimed Caliph Abu-Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi.

Earlier, the anti-terror probe agency had filed two separate chargesheets in the case on 20 April and 2 June 2023 before the NIA Court at Poonamallee, Chennai, against six and five accused respectively.

The case was initially registered by PS Ukkadam, Coimbatore City and subsequently handed over to NIA, which re-registered it on 27 October 2022.