U.S.wanted terror suspect arrested

MULTAN, Pakistan — Pakistan on Wednesday arrested a radical cleric and U.S.wanted terror suspect implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, officials said, just days ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip to Washington.

Hafiz Saeed was taken into custody in Punjab province while traveling from the eastern city of Lahore to the city of Gujranwala, according to counterterrorism official Mohammad Shafiq.

Saeed founded the LashkareTaiba group, which was blamed for the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. His charity organizations, JamaatudDawa and FalaheInsaniat, are alleged fronts for LashkareTaiba.

The United States has offered a $10 million reward for Saeed’s arrest and Washington recently stepped up pressure on Islamabad to crack down on terror groups.

In response, Pakistan registered over a dozen cases against Saeed and several of his associates, accusing them of funding militant groups through charities and leading to Wednesday’s arrest.

“After a ten year search, the socalled ‘mastermind’ of the Mumbai Terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan,” President Trump tweeted Wednesday. “Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!”

Prime Minister Imran Khan was to leave for Washington over the weekend on his first official visit to the United States as premier.

After his arrest, Saeed was taken before a judge and was ordered held in jail until the next hearing on Tuesday, Shafiq said.

In Pakistan, a suspect can be free on bail pending investigation and trial.