The anti-terror federal probe agency NIA on Friday said that it has arrested the 15th accused person as part of its probe into the ISIS-inspired car bomb blast case in Coimbatore.

In the blast case main accused Jamesha Mubeen, a suicide bomber, was killed when his IED-borne vehicle exploded, the agency said. Identifying the arrested accused as Tahanaseer, a resident of Coimbatore, the NIA said, “He conspired with other accused persons Jamesha Mubeen and Mohammed Thoufeek to commit the terror attack, which took place in front of the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam in Coimbatore on October 23, 2022.”

This case was initially registered by the Ukkadam Police Station in Coimbatore City and subsequently handed over to the NIA, which officially re-registered it on October 27, 2022, it said. The vehicle carrying the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was being driven by the accused, Jamesha Mubeen, with whom both Tahanaseer and Mohammed Thoufeeq were closely associated.

“Investigations revealed that Tahanaseer and Thoufeeq had visited the residence of Jamesha Mubeen, exactly one week prior to the attack, during which they conspired to carry out the act of terror,” the NIA said.

The agency further alleged that scrutiny of Tahanaseer’s digital device also revealed that he was in possession of ISIS-inspired literature and had deliberately attempted to cover his tracks by deleting the incriminating material, by employing specific mobile-based application software and apps following the terror incident, in an apparent bid to evade the attention of law enforcement agencies.

“Investigations also uncovered that the deceased accused, Jamesha, was deeply inspired and motivated by the radical ISIS ideology. He, prior to carrying out the terror attack, had sworn allegiance by giving ‘bayath’ to Abu-Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi, the self-proclaimed Caliphate of ISIS at the time,” it said.

The NIA had previously filed two separate charge sheets in the case on April 20 and June 2, 2023, before the NIA Court at Poonamallee, Chennai, against 11 suspects, the agency said, while noting that the probe in the case remains open.