Sri Lanka cricket surveillance nets terror bomb suspect

Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) - A Maldivian wanted for a 2007 terror bombing in Male was arrested there after his transit through Sri Lanka was detected by an INTERPOL team deployed for Cricket World Cup security support. INTERPOL said in a statement the Maldives national Iqbal Mohamed was arrested less than six hours after his passport triggered an INTERPOL alarm as he travelled from Pakistan to the Maldives via Sri Lanka.

Mohamed was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice for internationally wanted persons issued at the request of the Maldives National Central Bureau (NCB).

He was wanted in connection with a bomb attack in Male in 2007, where a device built from components such as a gas cylinder, a washing machine motor and a mobile phone exploded injuring 12 tourists several seriously.

Mohamed was identified by INTERPOL’s Major Events Support Team (IMEST) deployed to Sri Lanka for the Cricket World Cup during a routine check of Colombo airport passenger manifests, the statement said.

"After confirming Mohamed’s identity, the IMEST liaised with Colombo International Airport (police) and the NCBs in Colombo and Malé to monitor the 42-year-old’s transit and eventual arrival at Malé Internatio