Mira Road ‘Lone Wolf’ Attack: Divorce, Isolation and Online Videos Behind Accused’s Radicalisation
2,500-page chargesheet, officials said that Zaib Ansari (31) had “self-radicalised by watching online videos of extremist preachers.
By Sakshi
New Delhi, October 7: Being divorced, being asked to vacate a rented home, and distrusting food cooked by anyone but himself pushed a US-returned man into greater isolation and sorrow, later followed by a "lone wolf" attack on Mira Road in April this year.
In the 2,500-page chargesheet, officials said that Zaib Ansari (31) had “self-radicalised by watching online videos of extremist preachers”. On the day of the attack, he asked the religion of the two victims before stabbing them.
The ATS has charged Ansari, who is in jail, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), saying that a note was discovered at his residence that read, "lone wolves will pounce on you". An official said the ATS initially looked for evidence that Ansari had been guided by someone but did not find anything, according to a report by The Indian Express.
"Based on his interrogation and other evidence, we have ruled out any outsider being involved in this,” the official said.
He added that Ansari "was mentally disturbed" and became radicalised after watching online videos of preachers like Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical American Muslim imam of Yemeni descent who was connected to several international acts of terror. The official added that reports of children being killed in Palestine further disturbed Ansari.
In 2019, Ansari left the United States, where he coached tennis to students, but he had no consistent source of income in India. He was living alone after his divorce, and his landlady ordered him to move out because she did not want to rent to single people.
Ansari’s Mother’s Statement
"While his family members are based in the US, we have re-recorded the statement of his mother, who had come down to visit him and his Kurla-based uncle with whom he was initially staying," the official stated, the media report added.
It was over a period of six to eight months that Ansari radicalised himself.
During earlier court proceedings, Ansari's lawyer told the court that he has schizophrenia and was previously on medication. The lawyer also said Ansari eats only vegetarian food that he prepares himself and never eats food cooked by others, not even at a relative's home or at a family gathering.
Police officials also initially faced difficulties regarding his food while he was in custody.
