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[CRIME] · India · 8 sources

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Part of situation: Kochi synagogue area arson investigation (2 clusters)

Kochi police probe suspected terror links in synagogue-area arson

Kadavumbhagam Synagogue Ebin Paul Kochi arson attack cryptocurrency investigation Kerala police

Police in Kochi, Kerala, are investigating an October 12 arson attack near the historic Kadavumbhagam Synagogue. The suspect, 32-year-old Ebin Paul, allegedly arrived at Blossom Nursery, located outside the synagogue, in a blue car, poured petrol on the premises, and set fire to promotional materials before fleeing.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to examine the suspect’s electronic devices, including smartphones and a laptop, for evidence of a wider conspiracy. Preliminary forensic examinations of his mobile phone reportedly revealed communications with individuals suspected of having foreign links and messages referring to Jewish places of worship in various Indian cities. Investigators are also looking into whether Paul acted on instructions from an unidentified individual referred to as ‘Boss’ and if he received payments via cryptocurrency for carrying out the attack and recording footage.

On October 15, a court granted the police five days of custody to further interrogate Paul and analyze digital evidence. During the proceedings, the defense stated that the accused suffers from severe mental illness and requested that his psychiatric medication be maintained during detention. Authorities are also investigating Paul’s potential involvement in a separate arson incident at a used car showroom in Muvattupuzha.

Entities

Arun Pavithran · Blossom Nursery · Ebin Paul · Intelligence Bureau · Kadavubhagam Synagogue · Kadavumbhagam Synagogue · Kochi City Police · National Investigation Agency

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Kochi Synagogue Arson: Police Probe Accused Ebin Paul’s Alleged Foreign Links, Cryptocurrency Payments [theobserverpost.com]
Kochi synagogue arson: Muraleedharan calls Kerala a 'soft state' [newsable.asianetnews.com]
Kochi synagogue arson accused was paid to carry out attack, police probe links to "larger network" | Headlines [www.devdiscourse.com]
Kochi Synagogue Arson Suspect Arrested Amid Suspected Terror Links [time.news]
Foreign links, crypto payments under scanner in Kerala synagogue arson case [www.socialnews.xyz]
Who is ‘Boss’? Kochi synagogue-area arson probe reveals suspected foreign links, crypto angle [english.mathrubhumi.com]
Kochi Synagogue Arson Attack [www.deccanchronicle.com]
Court grants 5-day police custody of accused in arson near synagogue in Kochi [www.news18.com]