‘Lone wolf’ stabbing near Mumbai: Guard’s desperate cries caught on camera

MUMBAI: A chilling video from Mumbai’s Mira Road has captured the moments a antheral allegedly confronted and attacked 2 information guards astatine an under-construction tract successful Naya Nagar successful what investigators are probing arsenic a imaginable “lone wolf” panic attack. The footage, filmed from an precocious level by an unidentified person, shows the suspect—wearing an orangish T-shirt—lunging astatine 1 of the guards with a sharp-edged weapon. The victim, dressed successful a achromatic shirt, appears to stagger distant portion pleading, arsenic the attacker continues the assault. A 3rd antheral is seen successful the frame, seemingly incapable to intervene. Police person identified the accused arsenic 31-year-old Zaib Zubair Ansari, who was arrested a time aft the onslaught and aboriginal handed implicit to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). A section tribunal has remanded him to ATS custody till May 4. According to investigators, the onslaught took spot connected April 27 adjacent the Asmita Grand Mansion tract successful Mira Road’s Naya Nagar area. Two guards—Rajkumar Mishra (50) and Subroto Sen (31)—were injured. Mishra, who sustained grievous injuries, remains successful the ICU but is stable, portion Sen, who suffered insignificant injuries, lodged a ailment astatine the Naya Nagar constabulary station.

Eyewitnesses told constabulary that the accused initially approached the guards for directions earlier returning and asking them astir their religion. It is besides alleged that helium forced 1 of the guards to recite the Islamic Kalima and attacked erstwhile helium failed. Officials accidental aboriginal findings constituent towards imaginable radicalisation. Agency sources quoted ATS officials arsenic saying the incidental appeared to beryllium a “lone wolf” attack. During a hunt of Ansari’s rented residence successful Mira Road, investigators seized integer devices including a laptop and mobile phones. Officials said handwritten notes recovered from the location contained references to the Islamic State and indicated an intent to transportation retired specified an attack. According to sources, the accused described the incidental arsenic his “first step” towards joining a violent organisation. Police said Ansari had lived successful the United States for respective years, wherever helium completed his graduation, earlier returning to India successful 2020. He had been surviving unsocial successful Mira Road and was reportedly providing online chemistry coaching. Investigators judge his isolation whitethorn person contributed to his alleged radicalisation done online content. Authorities are present examining his integer footprint to find whether helium had immoderate interaction with handlers oregon extremist networks. The lawsuit comes amid a bid of caller ATS operations targeting suspected radicalisation. On March 2, the bureau conducted searches astatine residences successful Kurla, Shivaji Nagar and Govandi pursuing accusation astir alleged links with banned organisations. Earlier, connected February 15, coordinated raids were carried retired astatine 21 locations crossed Ahilyanagar and Yavatmal districts arsenic portion of a wider crackdown. The probe into the Mira Road onslaught is ongoing.