The Islamic State Indian Mujahideen module was planning strikes on multiple targets in Hyderabad, including a temple, markets, malls and a police station, sources in the NIA said.
NIA sources told ANI the investigating agencies are questioning the suspects for their plans to hit the targets, including Bhagya Laxmi temple near Charminar.
The NIA sources said that Habeeb, who was tasked by their leader Mohammad Ibrahim Yazdani to collect chemicals for making high grade explosives, disclosed during the interrogation that they were shown bomb making videos from YouTube.
Sources disclosed that Habeeb had purchased chemicals like sulphuric acid, acetone and hydrogen peroxide from Hyderabad and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
Habeeb, along with Yazdani, also went to Nanded on a bike to purchase two semi-automatic 9 mm pistols.
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Sources further said the duo also travelled to Ajmer earlier to purchase guns, but their money went in vain as the person didn't provide arms to them.
"The suspects had also purchased alarm clocks to use as timers in the bombs," they added.
The NIA sources also said the group, which was at an advanced stage of their plan, had collected Rs. 1.5 lakh from their savings for buying chemicals and two semi-automatic pistols.
