FBI seeks questioning of more individuals in India`s custody

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jan 9 (PTI) The Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), which is helping Indian intelligence
agencies and police in probing the Mumbai terror attack, has
sought permission from New Delhi to interrogate more persons
in its custody.

"The FBI continues its investigation in Mumbai attack and
has asked to interview other individuals in Indian custody who
may be able to provide critical information on attack planning
and group leadership," Donald Van Duyn, Chief Intelligence
Officer, Directorate of Intelligence, National Security Branch
of FBI said in his testimony before Senate Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

FBI's counter-terrorism agent and analysts were analyzing
information on the Mumbai attacks to determine who was
responsible, assess lessons learned, to determine if the US
may be vulnerable to a similar attack,and determine the threat
posed by the group-or individuals tied to the group—to the
country, Duyn said.

Reiterating the US position that Pakistan-based terrorist
organization Lashkar-e-Toiba had provided the training and
direction to the terrorists for the Mumbai attack, Duyn said
FBI assesses that LeT remains a threat to US interests in
South Asia and, to a lesser extent, the US Homeland.

"We have no current intelligence indicating that there is
an organized LeT presence in the United States or that LeT
senior leadership is seeking to attack the US Homeland. LeT
does maintain facilitation, procurement, fund-raising, and
recruitment activities worldwide, including in the United
States," he said.

Briefing the Committee on FBI's role in Mumbai attack
investigations, Duyn said soon after the attack FBI obtained
approval from the India and the US Embassy in New Delhi to
deploy the Los Angeles Rapid Deployment Team (FBI LA) and
Several critical personnel from its headquarters to Mumbai.

The team arrived in Mumbai on November 29.

"The FBI objective was to assist the Indian government
with its investigation, determine who was responsible for the
deaths of Americans in the attacks, uncover any possible US
nexus to the attacks. Also any other related threats to the US
citizens or interests abroad, and share intelligence and other
lessons learned with rest of the US intelligence and law
enforcement communities," he said.

On December 17 several additional FBI personnel were
deployed to Mumbai to assist in the local investigation. A
24/7 command posts to support the FBI team in Mumbai was also
established. These command posts also helped to process
information obtained from the investigation and related
interviews, as well as process tactical and strategic analysis
to define the overall intelligence picture, he said.

Praising the assistance rendered by the Indian
government, he said it was provided with unprecedented access
to evidence and intelligence related to the attacks from
Mumbai Police and Intelligence Bureau.

"The FBI was provided access to most of the attack
locations and technical evidence recovered from the scenes.
The team was able to use advanced forensic and technical
exploitation techniques to develop critical leads for both the
Indian and US investigations," he said.

"The FBI also conducted more than 60 interviews of
individuals in Mumbai, including witnesses with firsthand
accounts of the attacks and security personnel who were
involved in responding to the attacks," he said. PTI