The Punjab police in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies have arrested eight terrorists belonging to a defunct religious organisation, said Additional IG Police Malik Iqbal at a press conference here on Sunday.
He said the criminals had been apprehended with a large chunk of explosives along with instruments used in making bombs.
Malik Iqbal said the terrorist group was headed by Safeer Ahmad alias Mohammad Azeem alias Umair, adding that the Punjab government had kept a bounty of Rs 1 million on his arrest.
According to information obtained from these terrorists, the criminals had rented a house in Iqbal Park, Ittefaq Town, for their operations. Malik Iqbal said the terrorists obtained their training in sabotage and bomb explosions from a neighbouring country.
He said these criminals had attacked Missionary School, Murree in 2002. A large number of people were injured and killed in that heinous crime, he said.
Malik Iqbal said the same terrorists also attempted suicide attack on Taxila Missionary Church in 2002. The terrorist gang comprised Safir Ahmad; Mufti Saghir Ahmad; Ghulam Qadir alias Hayat Ullah alias Watoo; Muhammad Yasir Wafaq; Muhammad Sadiq alias Abdullah; Abdul Moeed alias Akhtar Barnalvi; Ubaid Ullah alias Hafiz; Syed Muhammad Masud alias Sajad Ali. They are under investigation, he added.