2008 Mumbai attacks

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Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

Locations of the attacks
Location Mumbai, India
Date 26 November 2008–29 November 2008 (IST, UTC +5:30)
Attack type Bombings, shootings, hostage crisis[1]
Deaths 173 (164 civilians and security personnel and 9 terrorists)[2]
Injured 308[2]
Suspected perpetrator(s) Controversial; key suspect is Lashkar-e-Taiba[3][4].
v • d • e
1993 – 2002 – 1st 2003 – 2nd 2003 – 3rd 2003 – 4th 2003 – 2006 – 2008
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The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a series of ten coordinated terrorist attacks across Mumbai, India's financial capital and its largest city. The attacks, carried out by Pakistani terrorists[5][6][7] using automatic weapons and grenades,[8] began on 26 November 2008 and ended on 29 November 2008.[9] At least 173 people[2][10] were killed and at least 308 were injured in the attacks.[2]

Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,[8] the Oberoi Trident,[8] the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower,[8] Leopold Cafe,[8] Cama Hospital,[8] the Orthodox Jewish-owned Nariman House,[11] the Metro Cinema,[12] and a lane behind the Times of India building behind St. Xavier's College.[8] There was also an explosion at the Mazagaon docks in Mumbai's port area, and a taxi blast at Vile Parle.[13][14]

By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Mahal Palace had been secured by Mumbai Police and security forces. An action by India's National Security Guards on 29 November resulted in the conclusion of the Taj Mahal Palace encounter, ending all fighting in the attacks.[15]

Ajmal Amir Kasab,[16] the only terrorist who was captured alive, disclosed that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Pakistan-based militant organization, considered a terrorist organization by India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.[17] The Indian Government said that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their controllers were in Pakistan. [18] The attacks drew widespread condemnation across the world.[19] After more than a month of denial[20], due to mounting international pressure[20], on 07 January 2009, Pakistan officially (Information Minister Sherry Rehman)[21] accepted that Ajmal Amir Kasab is a Pakistani.

Contents

[edit] Background

One of the bomb-damaged coaches at the Mahim station in Mumbai during the 11 July 2006 train bombings
Main article: Terrorism in Mumbai

Mumbai has suffered several terror attacks starting 12 March 1993 when there were serial blasts across the city. It has also seen many bombings in last decade. On 6 December 2002, a bomb placed under a seat of an empty BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) bus exploded near Ghatkopar station in Mumbai, killing two people and injuring around 28.[22] The bombing occurred on the tenth anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. On 27 January 2003, a bomb placed on a bicycle exploded near the Vile Parle station in Mumbai. The bomb killed one person and injured 25. The blast occurred a day ahead of the visit of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India to the city.[23] On 13 March 2003, a bomb exploded in a train compartment, as the train was entering the Mulund station in Mumbai. 10 people were killed and 70 were injured. The blast occurred a day after the tenth anniversary of the 1993 Bombay bombings.[24] On 28 July 2003, a bomb placed under a seat of a BEST bus exploded in Ghatkopar. The bomb killed 4 people and injured 32.[25] On 25 August 2003, two blasts occurred in South Mumbai - one near the Gateway of India and the other at Zaveri Bazaar in Kalbadevi. At least 44 people were killed and 150 injured. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but it had been hinted that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba was behind the attacks.[26] On 11 July 2006, a series of seven bomb blasts took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai at Khar, Mahim, Matunga, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and one between Khar and Santacruz.[27] 209 people were killed[28] and over 700 were injured.[29] According to Mumbai Police, the bombings were carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).[30]

[edit] Attribution

Main article: Attribution of the 2008 Mumbai attacks
Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive, at CST. One of the few images available of the terrorists while they carried out their attacks.

Both American and Indian authorities have little doubt that the Mumbai attacks were directed by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants inside Pakistan.[31][32][17][33] Pakistan contested this attribution for weeks, but finally admitted it on January 7, 2009[34][35]. The Indian government supplied evidence to Pakistan's high commission in Delhi, in the form of interrogations, weapons, and call records of conversations during the attacks.[36] The evidence, shown to friendly governments and media, provides a detailed sequence of training, supplying, and constant communications with handlers from Pakistan.[3]

Moreover, Indian government officials said that the attacks were so sophisticated that they must have had official backing from Pakistani "agencies"[37], an accusation denied by Pakistan.[34][31]

There were reports initially about possible involvement of the Mumbai underworld, with agencies in India and Russia specifically naming Dawood Ibrahim, an organized crime syndicate believed to be hiding in Pakistan.[38][39]

[edit] Attackers

Ten terrorists took part in the attacks, nine of whom were subsequently shot dead by security forces.[40][41] They looked young, in their early twenties, and wore T-shirts, black shirts, and jeans. Some witnesses have even said that they smiled and looked happy as they shot their victims.[42]

Initially, some reports claimed that there were British among the terrorists.[43][44] However, Indian police have stated that there was no evidence to confirm this.

On 9th December, the ten attackers and their home towns in Pakistan were identified by Mumbai police:[45] Ajmal Amir from Faridkot, Abu Ismail Dera Ismail Khan from Dera Ismail Khan, Hafiz Arshad and Babr Imran from Multan, Javed from Okara, Shoaib from Narowal, Nazih and Nasr from Faisalabad, Abdul Rahman from Arifwalla, and Fahad Ullah from Dipalpur Taluka. Dera Ismail Khan is in the North-West Frontier Province, the rest of the towns are in Pakistani Punjab.

[edit] Arrests

Main article: Ajmal Amir

Ajmal Amir was the only terrorist captured alive by police and is currently in House arrest.[46] Much of the information about the attackers' preparation, travel, and movements comes from his confessions to the Mumbai police.[47][48]

[edit] Attacks

Main article: Timeline of the 2008 Mumbai attacks
Police looking for terrorists outside Colaba.

[edit] Entry into India

The attackers traveled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan, across the Arabian Sea to Mumbai. They entered via speed boats that were on board trawlers. The trawlers left Pakistan and stopped at Porbandar, India, before landing in Mumbai.[45]

The first events were detailed around 20:00 IST on 26 November, when 10 Urdu-speaking men in inflatable speedboats came ashore at two locations in Colaba. They reportedly told local Marathi-speaking fishermen to mind their business before they split up and headed two different ways; the fishermen's subsequent report to police received little response.[49]

Bullet marks on the wall of the suburban terminus at CST

[edit] Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was attacked by two terrorists, one of whom, Ajmal Amir Kasab was later caught alive by the police. The attacks began here around 21:20, when two terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles entered the passenger hall, opened fire and threw grenades, killing at least ten people.[50]

[edit] Taj Mahal Hotel and Oberoi Trident

The damaged Oberoi Tower restaurant
Main articles: Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and Oberoi Trident

The Taj Hotel and the Oberoi Trident were the two hotels attacked, among the four locations targeted. Two terrorists held fifteen hostages, including seven foreigners, in the Taj Mahal hotel.[51]A rescue team of 200 commandos flew into Mumbai from New Delhi to take charge of the Situation.[52] CNN reported at 23:00 that the hostage situation at the Taj had been resolved and quoted the police chief of Maharashtra state as saying that all hostages were freed;[53] however, it was later learned that there were still hostages in the hotel.[54] Forty people were being held as hostages in the Oberoi Trident hotel.[55] Six blasts were reported to have taken place at the Taj hotel and one at the Oberoi Trident.[56][57] The Taj Mahal Hotel was reported to be completely under government control at 04:22[53] and Indian commandos killed two terrorists inside Oberoi hotel and took control of the building.[58][59]

Wasabi restaurant on the first floor of the Taj Hotel was completely gutted

Both hotels were on fire and were surrounded by Rapid Action Force personnel and MARCOS and NSG commandos.[60] Reports emerged of terrorists receiving live feeds broadcast by television stations; feeds to the hotels were subsequently blocked.[61] All terrorists were out of the Taj hotel, and police and firefighters were working to rescue the estimated 50 people trapped inside. Low-intensity blasts were reported in Vile Parle and a grenade attack in Santa Cruz. Two blasts were reported in the Nepean Sea Road area of south Mumbai. Local Mumbai Suburban Railway trains on the Western Railway were running, whereas those of the Central Railway were suspended. More blasts were reported at the Oberoi as the siege continued.[55] Meanwhile, police seized a boat filled with arms and explosives anchored at Mazgaon dock off Mumbai harbour.[62]

Several motorcycles lie in a pool of blood.

A number of European Parliament Committee on International Trade delegates were staying in the Taj Mahal hotel when it was attacked,[63] but none of them were injured. British Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim (who was in the lobby when terrorists initially opened fire there) and German Social Democrat MEP Erika Mann were hiding in different parts of the building.[64] Also reported present was Spanish MEP Ignasi Guardans, who was barricaded in a hotel room.[65] Another British Conservative MEP, Syed Kamall, reports that he along with several other MEPs left the hotel and went to a nearby restaurant shortly before the attack.[64] Kamall also reported that Polish MEP Jan Masiel was thought to have been sleeping in his hotel room when the attacks occurred. He did not leave his room for a long time, but he finally managed to safely leave the hotel.[66] Kamall and Guardans report that a Hungarian MEP's assistant was shot.[64][67] Also caught up in the shooting were the President of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, while checking in at the Oberoi Trident,[67] and Indian MP N. N. Krishnadas of Kerala and Sir Gulam Noon while having dinner at a restaurant in the Taj hotel.[68][69]

Front view of the Nariman House a week after the attacks

[edit] Nariman House

Main article: Nariman House

Nariman House was a Jewish center in Mumbai that was attacked. The The New York Times reported that terrorists held several hostages at the Mumbai Chabad House (also known as Nariman House) in Colaba, owned by Chabad Lubavitch.[70] It was reported in the early morning of 29 November that Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivkah Holtzberg, who was six months pregnant, were murdered with other hostages inside the house.[71] According to a new report Nariman House, not the Taj Mahal Hotel, was the prime target on November 26 and The Mumbai crime branch, which is investigating the terror attacks, has found that the terrorists' handlers in Pakistan were clear this operation should not fail under any circumstances. The rest of the operations - at the Taj, Oberoi and Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus - were intended to amplify the effect.[72]

[edit] End of the attacks

The army was reported to have secured one of the hotels, and eight hostages were freed at the Jewish outreach group.[60][73][74] After two days of gunfire and explosions, the attack was incorrectly reported to have ceased as of the early morning of 28 November in Mumbai.[75][76] The fires were out and soldiers were leading hostages and holed-up guests to safety and removing bodies of those killed in the attacks.[75] Nariman House and the Oberoi Trident were cleared of hostages by Indian commandos.[75][77] Later news reports indicated that there were still two or three terrorists in the Taj, with explosions heard and gunfire exchanged.[77] Fires were also reported as having been caused at the ground floor of the Taj with plumes of smoke arising from the first floor. [77] The final operation at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel was completed by the National Security Guards at 08:00 on 29 November, killing three terrorists and resulting in the conclusion of the attacks.[78] The security forces rescued 250 people in Oberoi, 300 in Taj and 12 families of 60 people in Nariman House.

[edit] Methodology

The terrorists had planned the attack several months ahead of time and knew some areas well enough to "vanish" and reappear after security forces had left. Several sources have quoted Kasav telling the police that the group received help from local Mumbai residents.[79][80]. The terrorists used at least three SIM cards purchased on the Indian side of the border with Bangladesh, pointing to some local collusion.[81] There are also reports of one SIM card purchased in New Jersey, USA[82]. Police have also mentioned that Faheem Ansari, an Indian Lashkar operative who has been arrested in February 2008, has scouted the Mumbai targets for the November attacks[83]. Later, the police arrested two Indian suspects, Tausif Rehman and Mikhtar Ahmad, who is from Srinigar in Kashmir. They supplied the SIM cards, one in Calcutta, and the other in New Delhi.[84]

Blood tests on the terrorists indicate that they consumed cocaine and LSD during the attacks, to sustain their energy and stay awake for 50 hours. Police says that they found syringes on the scenes of the attacks. There were also indications that they had been consuming steroids.[85]

[edit] Casualties

Main article: Casualties of the 2008 Mumbai attacks

At least 164 people (civilians and security personnel) were killed in the attacks. Among the dead were 30 foreign nationals from 10 countries.[2][53][86][87][88][89]

In addition, nine terrorists were killed and one was captured.[90]

The bodies of many of the dead hostages showed signs of torture or disfigurement.[91] A number of the casualties were notable figures in business, media, and security services.[92][93][94][95]

The Government of Maharashtra announced Rs. 5 lakh (about 10,000 USD) compensation to the kin of those killed in the terror attacks and Rs. 50,000 (about 1,000 USD) to the seriously injured.[96]

The complete list of deceased is available from news sources (NDTV).

[edit] Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the 2008 Mumbai attacks

Political reactions in Mumbai and India included a range of resignations and political changes. Reactions included condemnation of the attacks by Indian Muslim organizations and personalities and insurgent movements. The business establishment also reacted, with changes to transport, and requests for an increase in self-defense capabilities.

International reaction for the attacks was widespread, with many countries and international organizations condemning the attacks and expressing their condolences to the civilian victims. Many important personalities around the world have very strongly condemned the attacks.[97]

Media coverage highlighted the use of new media and Internet social networking tools, including Twitter and Flickr, in spreading information about the attacks, observing that Internet coverage was often ahead of more traditional media sources.

[edit] Aftermath

Main article: Aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks
An awareness camp being carried out at a Church in Chandigarh on Christmas eve.

The attacks had multiple, far-ranging effects. Besides the immediate impact on the victims and their families, the attacks caused widespread anger among the Indian public and condemnations throughout the world.

The immediate impact was felt on Mumbai and Maharashtra state, and throughout urban India. There were also after-effects on the Indian government, center-state relations within India, Indo-Pakistani relations, domestic impact within Pakistan, on the United States's relationships with both countries, the US-led NATO war in Afghanistan, and on the Global War on Terror.

[edit] Locations

With the exception of the bomb blast at Vile Parle, all the other incidents took place in downtown South Mumbai.

To See the Dossier of evidence collected by investigating agencies of India

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/MumbaiDossier/Mumbai-1-20-1st.htm

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

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  2. ^ a b c d e "HM announces measures to enhance security". Press release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, dated 2008-12-11. Retrieved on 2008-12-14.
  3. ^ a b Dossier From India Gives New Details of Mumbai Attacks, NYT, 2009-01-06
  4. ^ Maseeh Rahman (2008-11-27). "Mumbai terror attacks: Who could be behind them?", The Guardian. Retrieved on 29 November 2008. 
  5. ^ "SCENARIOS: What war with Pakistan could mean for India", Reuters (2008-12-27). Retrieved on 27 December 2008. 
  6. ^ "Pakistan's Probe Finds Local Links To Attacks On Mumbai", The Wall Street Journal (2008-12-31). Retrieved on 31 December 2008. 
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  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Wave of Terror Attacks Strikes India's Mumbai, Killing at Least 182", FOX News (2008-11-27). Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  9. ^ Singh, Tejinder (2008-12-01). "Lashkar-E-Taiba`s audacious siege of Mumbai", New Europe. Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  10. ^ "US presses Pakistan over Mumbai", BBC News (2008-12-03). Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  11. ^ Kahn, Jeremy (2008-12-02). "Jews of Mumbai, a Tiny and Eclectic Group, Suddenly Reconsider Their Serene Existence", New York Times. Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  12. ^ Magnier, Mark (2008-12-03). "Mumbai police officers describe nightmare of attack", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  13. ^ "Tracing the terror route", Indian Express (2008-12-10). Retrieved on 9 December 2008. 
  14. ^ "Cops clueless about Vile Parle taxi blast", The Times of India (2008-11-26). Retrieved on 28 November 2008. 
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  16. ^ "Terrorist’s name lost in transliteration", The Hindu (2008-12-06). Retrieved on 7 December 2008. 
  17. ^ a b Schmitt, Eric; Somini Sengupta, Jane Perlez (2008-12-03). "U.S. and India See Link to Militants in Pakistan", New York Times. Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  18. ^ "Bombs found in Mumbai train station a week later", National Public Radio (2008-12-03). Retrieved on 3 December 2008. 
  19. ^ Black, Ian (2008-11-28). "Attacks draw worldwide condemnation", The Guardian. Retrieved on 5 December 2008. 
  20. ^ a b "Pakistan Continues to Resist India Pressure on Mumbai", Time (2009-01-08). Retrieved on 8 January 2009. 
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  24. ^ "Fear after Bombay train blast", BBC (2003-03-14). Retrieved on 19 August 2008. 
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  28. ^ "India: A major terror target", The Times of India (2008-10-30). Retrieved on 11 November 2008. 
  29. ^ "'Rs 50, 000 not enough for injured'", Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. (2006-07-21). Retrieved on 11 November 2008. 
  30. ^ "India police: Pakistan spy agency behind Mumbai bombings", CNN (2006-10-01). Retrieved on 11 November 2008. 
  31. ^ Schmitt, Eric; Sengupta, Somini (2008-12-03). "Ex-U.S. Official Cites Pakistani Training for India Attackers", The New York Times