Al-Qaeda threatens blasts in AP, TV channel receives e-mail

Hyderabad, Aug 14 (UNI) A Telugu TV Channel today received an e-mail from international terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda in the name of 'Al-Qaeda Zihad', threatening that bombs would be triggered in several parts of Andhra Pradesh tomorrow on the occasion of Independence Day.

The e-mail said the bombs were planted in Hyderabad, Visakhapatanam, Nizamabad, Anantapur, Vikarabad and Adilabad towns and could go off anytime tomorrow.

Meanwhile, city police Commissioner B Prasada Rao told newspersons here, ''we are verifying the authenticity of the e-mail. We have to conduct investigation into it before comfirming whether the mail came from the terrorist organisation.'' Stating that security has been beefed up in the capital city for smooth conduct of I-Day celebrations in view of increasing threat from terrorists and Naxals, he said 103 police officers, 472 men of civil force, ten platoons of armed forces and two units of Task Force have been deployed in and around parade grounds where Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and VIPs would take part in the celebrations.

Adequate arrangements have been made at important public places, political party offices, temples and bus stations where flag hoisting ceremony will be held. The anti-sabotage teams have been pressed into service at such places.

Other measures, like vehicle checking at entry points to the city, frisking and checking at important crowded places, are being undertaken by various units of city police.

UNI AP AE KP1806