BANGLADESH DETAINS SUSPECTED LET TERRORIST; SHARES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 001073 NOFORN SIPDIS TERREP DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA-SCA, DS/TIA, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/TIA/CC, DS/TIA/PII, DS/T/ATA, SCA/INSB, SCA/FO, S/CT, INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2029 TAGS: PTER ASEC PINS PGOV PINR IN PK BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH DETAINS SUSPECTED LET TERRORIST; SHARES INFORMATION ON EARLIER ARRESTS; DISCOUNTS THREAT TO U.S. REF: A. DHAKA 1035 ¶B. DHAKA 1025 ¶C. DHAKA 984 ¶D. DHAKA 981 ¶E. DHAKA 980 ¶F. IIR 4 201 0321 10 DTG 171846Z ¶G. IIR 4 201 0321 10 DTG 151941Z ¶H. IIR 4 201 0273 10 DTG 140023Z ¶I. IIR 4 201 0253 10 DTG 102212Z Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY REASONS 1.4 (b),(c),(d), (g) Summary -------------- ¶1. (S/NF) Police arrested Abu Motaleb, a suspected LeT member, on November 21 as part of the Government of Bangladesh's (GOB) continuing effort to deny space to terrorists. In addition to this most recent arrest, the GOB in early November arrested five foreign nationals with suspected LeT ties: two Indians with possible links to the 2008 Mumbai attacks and three Pakistanis. In responding to our queries about these arrests, GOB officials were more cautious than previously about sharing information, possibly because of sensitive relations among Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Although an over-centralized bureaucracy and a culture of mistrust continue to hamper information sharing among GOB security and law enforcement organizations, the GOB continues to act boldly in its efforts against extremists. Police Arrest Another Suspected LeT Member -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Police arrested Abu Motaleb, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba recruiter and arms and explosive expert on November 21. Police alleged Motaleb was recruiting in Bangladesh as well as possibly scouting targets and training militants for operations in India and Afghanistan. Police provided ARSO with information taken from Motaleb during initial questioning. Motaleb said he was 44 years old; however, according to his Bangladesh National ID Card, he was born in 1973. Motaleb said he had left Bangladesh and crossed into Pakistan via India in 1987 to join the mujahideen fighting the Soviets. Motaleb said he had fought in Afghanistan from October/November 1987 until the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1988-89, when he returned to Bangladesh. While fighting in Afghanistan, Motaleb met Amzad Khaza, allegedly a HUJI-B leader, and fought the Soviets alongside him. After Motaleb XXXXXXXXXXXX, he remained in contact with Amzad and assisted him with HUJI-B operational logistics. Officials in the Detective Branch of Bangladesh's police told ARSO they believed Motaleb facilitated connections between a LeT operative named Abdur Rahman Syed and HUJI-B. Below is Motaleb's information, taken from his national ID card: Name: Abu Motaleb Alias: Mutu DPOB: 04/15/1973, Raninagar, Rajshahi National ID card: 1594314764937 Father: Abdur Rouf (deceased) Mother: Momtaz Begum Current Address: Chaya Bhaban, Chanmari Road, Police Station Dampara - 4000, Khulshi, Chittagong City Corporation, Chittagong, Bangladesh Other Addresses: Village Char Shahapur, Police Station Ishwardi, Pabna District, Bangladesh Chittagong Arrests Included Two Indian Extremists -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Tarique Siddique, a key advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, informed us that Indian officials notified the GOB that two unidentified Indian nationals, suspected of having LeT ties and connected to the 2008 Mumbai attack, were hiding in the Chittagong area and requested GOB assistance in detaining them (ref A). This account varied slightly from information provided by the police, who told us an unidentified source from within LeT had put Bangladesh police on the trail of an Indian national, with suspected ties to LeT, named T. Nasir. That led police to the two Indians, T. Nasir and Sharfaraz (NFI),and three Bangladeshi suspects later arrested in Chittagong. Police, likely at the GOI's request, had not publicized the arrests of the two Indians; however, police later clarified to the ARSO that they arrested a total of five, not three, individuals. The police confirmed they handed over the two Indian nationals to India's Border Security Force on or about November 5 or 6, but did not specify how the transfers were accomplished. (Note: We have no further information on T. Nasir or Sharfaraz. End note.) ¶4. (S/NF) Local media speculated that the three Bangladeshi nationals arrested in Chittagong - Mufti Harun Izahar, Shahidul Islam, and Saiful Islam - were LeT members planning attacks on the Indian and U.S. Embassies in Dhaka (ref B). Police rearrested the three men after they were granted and then posted bail on November 22. Police provided ARSO with updated suspect information, including information gleaned from their cell phones: Name: Mufti Harun Izahar DOB: 02/06/1977 Citizenship: Bangladeshi Bangladeshi Passport #: X - 0651832 National ID card: 1594314262970 Mothers Name: Masana Begum Fathers Name: Mufti Izhar Hossain age: 65 Current Address: Shah Garibullah Housing Society, 162/197 Al Imam Academy, Police Station Kulshi, Chittagong Grameen SIM #: 01713450203 attached IME: 357653010927170 Name: Shahidul Islam Alias: Sujan DOB: 01/01/1984 Citizenship: Bangladeshi Bangladeshi Passport #: A - 0438267 National ID card: 1594314262996 Mothers Name: Hazera Khatun Fathers Name: Abdur Rahim (deceased) Current Address: Vill Char Syed Zaghar, Police Station Ishwardi, Mymensingh Grameen SIM #: 01710434987 attached IME: 353211033566680 Name: Saiful Islam Alias: Al Amin DOB: 01/01/1981 Citizenship: Bangladeshi Bangladesh Passport #: Unknown National ID card: Unknown Mothers Name: Mosammat Syda Begum Fathers Name: Mohammed Yeasin Current Address: Shah Garibullah Housing Society, 162/194 Al Iman Academy, Police Station Kulshi, Chittagong Grameen SIM #: 01722087315 attached IME: 356664005117020 Shahidul's Cell Phone Records -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) Special Branch aided ARSO in obtaining a copy of Shahidul Islam's cell phone tracking data. Of particular note are calls Shahidul placed or received on OCTOBER 27 and ¶28. Just before his departure from Chittagong to Dhaka via train, Shahidul made his last phone call to Mufti Harun Izahar's cell number on OCTOBER 27 at 2356 hours. He contacted Izahar again on OCTOBER 28 at 0929 hours from the Kamlapur Railway Station in Dhaka. Shahidul's next phone call to Izahar was when he returned to Chittagong two days later. While in Dhaka, Shahidul received several calls from cell phone SIM numbers 01926331259 and 01916481727. Both SIM numbers were associated with the same attached IME 35321033566680, which could mean the user switched SIM chips between various calls. The user of this phone contacted Shahidul extensively between 1002 - 1411 hours on OCTOBER 28 while Shahidul was in proximity to cell phone repeater towers scattered throughout the Diplomatic Enclave. Between the hours of 1025 - 1322 hours, Shahidul received calls through towers located less than a mile from the U.S. Embassy, the American School, and most Embassy residences. (Comment: Despite this information, GOB officials at all levels told us those arrested this month did not appear to be planning attacks on Embassy Dhaka or the Indian diplomatic mission, as many media reports alleged. End Comment.) Three Pakistani extremists also arrested -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Police investigated and arrested on November 12 three Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi they linked, via cell phone records, to the original three Bangladeshis arrested in Chittagong in early November. Police provided Post with initial information on the three Pakistani nationals arrested on/about November 12: Name: Syed Sufian Azhari DOB: 04/24/1987 Pakistani Passport: AQ 1844051 SIM #'s: 01715619873, 01720117447, 01727109201 were all used interchangeably with the following IME #'s: 35273401694740, 353794005801650, 357013001881080, 357168005354380, 358806008874860, and 359315021900540 Name: Muhammed Zahid DOB: 01/12/1985 Pakistani Passport: AS 5178341 SIM #: 01720637776 attached IME #: 356838020417720 Name: Munawar Ali DOB: 06/01/1979 Pakistani Passport: DH 1799912 SIM #: 01715227504 attached IME #: 357013001728540 Comment -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) The GOB continues to act quickly in its efforts to arrest suspected terrorists. However, an over-centralized bureaucracy and a culture of mistrust continue to hamper information sharing among GOB security and law enforcement organizations. Post continues to seek further information on those arrested, although in some cases GOB officials have shown reluctance to share fully information with us. This is unusual as Post normally enjoys close cooperation with the GOB. The involvement of both Indian and Pakistani nationals, and the sensitive nature of Bangladesh's relationship with these two countries, may be the source of Bangladeshi reluctance to share information regarding the foreign nationals arrested. Media speculation regarding the alleged targets has continued since the initial spate of arrests in early November, and the common public perception that the Indian and U.S. Embassies were targeted remains. GOB officials continue to maintain that media reporting about alleged targets was false and none of those arrested were directly tied to a threat against U.S. interests in Bangladesh. We remain vigilant and engaged to counter threats to the Mission, U.S. citizens and U.S. interests in Bangladesh. MORIARTY