Indian anti-terrorist police have detained three men in the first arrests in connection with the Mumbai train blasts that left 183 people dead and more than 800 wounded, police said yesterday.
Three men were picked up overnight for their part in the "larger conspiracy" and their role in the blasts was being investigated, said additional commissioner Jayjit Singh, in charge of the anti-terrorist squad.
"We have arrested people. They are part of the larger conspiracy. Their role in the blasts is being examined," he said.
One of the men was picked up on the outskirts of Mumbai and two others arrested in the eastern state of Bihar, Singh said.
The Bihar two, named by the United News of India as Mohammad Kalam and Mohammad Khalil, were flown to Mumbai yesterday morning, with the three due to appear in court later in the day.
Seven bombs were timed to go off within 11 minutes on packed rush-hour commuter trains in the western Indian city on July 11 with blame for the attacks focused on Islamic militants both inside and outside India.
Officers said the most likely group behind the attacks was Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is fighting Indian control in Kashmir, with help from Mumbai-based Islamic militants. Lashkar has denied involvement.
Kenyan police said on Thursday they had arrested a Lashkar militant, Abdul Karim Tunda, saying he was a suspect in the Mumbai bombings and would be turned over to prosecutors for possible extradition to India.
"We arrested him ... in Mombasa," a senior Kenyan police official said on condition of anonymity. "He is wanted for the bombings in Mumbai. He will be handed over because he is on the wanted list."
The police have been strongly criticized in the Indian media for the slow pace of the inquiry but senior officers had insisted they were making progress and had vital leads.
Hundreds of people were detained during a trawl of suspected Islamic activists in Mumbai and around the country but most were released after questioning.
Police said yesterday the death toll went up overnight by one to 183. One badly damaged torso and head remained unclaimed in hospital, and officials were investigating if the man was an innocent victim or part of a bombing team.
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