The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has busted an "ISIS-inspired" group, which was planning mass casualty attacks using poisonous chemical mixtures at big gatherings, an official said on Wednesday.
The ATS has also arrested eight men and detained a minor boy -- all suspected members of the group -- following searches in Thane and Aurangabad over the last two days, he added.
The arrests have come just days ahead of the Republic Day on January 26.
The ATS has seized liquids, chemical powders, a chemical bottle with "hydrogen peroxide" written on it, six knives, six pen drives, six laptops, over 24 mobile phones, several gadgets, WiFi routers, DVDs, CDs, hard drives, graphics cards, modems and computer RAMs (random access memory), the ATS official said.
The group, which had engineers in its ranks, had planned to prepare toxic chemical mixtures and blend those with food or water at big events to cause mass casualty, he added.
All the seized materials were sent to the forensic science laboratory for examination, he said.
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"These people had created a terrorist gang inspired by the ISIS called the Ummat E Mohammadiya and had planned terror activities at various places," the official said without elaborating.
"The idea was to make some poisonous mixtures and mix those in water or food at places of big events so that people consume it," he said.
The locations where the group had planned the terror activities were being ascertained, he added.
"We will verify all the aspects, including (a possible) attack at the (ongoing) Kumbh Mela (in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh) and at other big events as well," the official said.
The chemicals seized from the group were of experimental quantities, he said, adding, "We are also investigating whether the group had any associates in the state or other parts of the country."
Some of the accused had procured passports, the official said, adding, "We suspect that after carrying out the terror activities, the accused had planned to leave the country."
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