Nationwide terror alert sounded

NEW DELHI - The home ministry Monday issued a nationwide terror alert after intelligence inputs suggested that cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Agra, among others, might be targets of terror attacks in the coming days.

The red alert comes days after Mumbai Police said four men of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group had entered the city to carry out a “violent” attack.

Home ministry sources said the alert was issued following Intelligence Bureau inputs warning of possible terror attacks at places visited by David Coleman Headley, co-conspirator in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Headly had visited many places in Mumbai, Delhi (including the National Defence College), Pune (German Bakery), Lucknow, Agra and Ahmedabad.

Security has been tightened in major cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi, the sources said.

While Mumbai has been on alert since Christmas, the city’s airport was put on high-alert Monday morning after intelligence reports suggested that one of the four LeT militants might try to escape Monday, sources said.

Police and paramilitary forces in Karnataka, particularly in the coastal areas, were placed on high alert following warnings of possible terror strikes in the coming days, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said Monday.

Sources add that special alerts have been issued for the Taj in Agra and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Mumbai.