'Terrorists in Mumbai attacks may be linked with al-Qaeda'

MOSCOW: The terrorists involved in multiple attacks in Mumbai killing over 100 people could be closely linked with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, a top Russian security official said on Thursday.

"The Russian secret services have information that certain groups that have carried out attacks in Mumbai have contacts with Al-Qaeda," said the official, identified as a senior source at one of Russia's spy agencies.

"In particular, the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. This group's militants undergo special training in al-Qaeda camps, located on the border between Pakistan and India," the official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency.

Earlier, Russian intelligence and security chief Alexander Bortnikov noted 'growing activity' of international terror organisations, which are trying to expand their activities beyond Afghan-Pakistan zone.

"There is need to note growing activities of international terrorist organisations in the Afghan-Pakistan zone and in the countries of North Africa. A stable tendency to expand their activities to the other territories, including that of European states and our country is clearly visible," Director FSB security service Bortnikov today said while chairing the National Anti-Terror Committee.