Liyakath Ali, a Students Islamic Movement of India activist arrested in Belgaum a month back, has revealed during interrogation that Abu Basher, who has been arrested by the Gujarat police, masterminded both the Bengaluru and Ahmedabad serial blasts. He also told interrogators that the main intention was to disrupt peace in both places.

Ali said that Basher had visited Hubli, Belgaum and Bengaluru [Images] in 2007. Here he imparted training to several youth including Riazzuddin Nasir on using arms and making bombs. Ali said that the training programme was sponsored by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The funds were handed over directly to Basher, Ali said. Basher left Karnataka immediately after imparting training.

Ali said the bombs were made using local explosives. The initial plan was to use RDX, but they realised that there was a lot of risk involved in getting it smuggled through the borders. Ali said that the bombs for Gujarat and Bengaluru were locally assembled.

When Ali was picked up by the Belgaum police he was found in possession of video clips of the 9/11 attack in the US and also some material regarding terrorism in Kashmir.