India on alert over warning of terrorist attack in the air

INDIAN air force chiefs today said authorities have received warning of a possible airborne attack.

The threat comes as airports were put on high alert following intelligence warnings that terrorists may be planning fresh attacks.

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony summoned the military chiefs to warn them to be prepared for attacks from the air and the sea in the wake of growing criticism over security after the Mumbai attacks.

Meanwhile, Indian officials said two senior leaders of a banned Pakistani militant group are suspected to have orchestrated the three-day siege of the country's financial capital.

Evidence points to Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Yusuf Muzammil as the masterminds behind last week's bloody rampage in Mumbai, according to government officials. Lakhvi and Muzammil belong to outlawed Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba – which India blames in the attack – and are believed to be living in Pakistan, the officials said.

The lone surviving gunman in the assault told police Lakhvi recruited him and the assailants called Muzammil on a satellite phone.

The revelations came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Pakistan today.