Court hears suspects in Verulam Mosque attack linked to ISIS

The group applied for bail on Tuesday.

You could hear a pin drop as state read out an affidavit compiled by investigating officer, Khwezi Chonco, to oppose bail for the accused.

In the affidavit, Chonco says Accused 2 and 3 were positively identified in an identity parade as part of the group of assailants that stabbed three people at the Imam Hussein Mosque that claimed the life of Abbas Essop.

There were gasps when as the court heard that devices similar to the ones found planted inside several Woolworths stores and other locations in Durban were found at the Reservoir Hills home of Accused number 1, Farhaad Hoomer and in the rooms of some of the other suspects.

Hoomer has been identified as the leader of the group and is alleged to have trained the others at his home.

Chonco says during a search and seizure operation, handsets that can set off the devices were found.

He says officers also found manuals for carrying out a terrorist attack, pro-ISIS newsletters as well as ISIS flags.