NEW DELHI, India – Delhi police said Thursday (October 11th) that they have thwarted a major terrorist attack planned for the upcoming festive season by arresting three suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives, local media reported.

"The three IM operatives – Asad, Imran Khan and Sayeed Feroz – were arrested from the Pul Prahladpur area in South Delhi. They were carrying huge amounts of explosives and other materials for making bombs," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told reporters, according to IANS.

The three suspects were being instructed by IM chief Yasin Bhatkal and his brother Riyaz, apparently operating from across the border, he added.

Asad and Khan were arrested on September 26th in the capital where investigators say they had come to meet Raju Bhai, who was to help them hide the explosives. Firoz was arrested on October 1st.

Sources told The Indian Express that the trio has been linked to August's four low-intensity bomb blasts in Pune that left one person injured.