Attack on Bombay stock exchange foiled: Indian police

NEW DELHI, Feb 11, 2008 (AFP) - Police in northern Indian have held six alleged Islamic militants suspected of planning an attack on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), a report said Monday.



India's stock market is a potent symbol of the country's booming economic growth.



In 2007, India's stock markets rose by a record 47.1 percent, the largest climb in four years.



"The BSE was going to be their first target," said Amitabh Yash, a police officer with Uttar Pradesh state's anti-terror force, according to a report in the Times of India.

"These terrorists have multiple targets.

In case they fail in one, they quickly move on to the next.

"

The men are all believed to be members of the hardline Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of nearly a dozen groups fighting against Indian rule over a part of Muslim-majority Kashmir.

Three of the suspects were planning to board a bus for Mumbai on Sunday.

State police chief Vikram Singh said they received a tip-off leading them to the men, who were arrested Saturday.

The men were carrying automatic rifles and grenades when they were arrested, the report said, adding that at least one man had a Pakistani passport.

The men have also been linked to a N