Neighbours questioned, computers sent for analysis

MUMBAI: Neighbours of the US national, whose computer was used to send a threat e-mail prior to the Ahmedabad blasts, have been questioned and their computers, too, have been sent for forensic analysis, police sources said on Thursday.

"We have seized 10 computers, including three belonging to the American national, Ken Haywood, which have been sent to the Kalina Forensic Laboratory for further investigations," Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sources said.

The neighbours who had access to the same wireless Internet connection that Haywood had access to, have been questioned and their computers sent for analysis, sources said.

It was also found that there were three computers in the American national's residence and over 400 MB of data had been downloaded on his Internet account on the day of the Ahmedabad blasts between 1 pm and 8 pm, the same day the e-mail was sent.

When asked, Joint Commissioner of Police (ATS) Hemant Karkare said they were probing the possibility that someone had illegally logged into his account and sent the mail.

"We are still to finalise how the email was sent but until there is a definite answer I would not like to comment," Karkare said.

Haywood, also went to the Anti-Terrorism Squad office in Navi Mumbai where he met with senior officials. However, he refused to comment on the matter.

Karkare denied that Haywood's passport had been seized by the ATS and said they had asked him to stay available during the investigations.