9/11 again - This time in India! [Archive] - Horror.com Forums

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11-26-2008, 08:44 PM

MUMBAI, Nov 26: Heavy exchanges of gunfire were taking place at around 2 this morning between police and terrorists, who were holed up in two luxury hotels in south Mumbai, after the worst terrorist attack in India had seen at least 80 people killed and over 150 injured.

The army was called out as terror attacks swept through the city late at night, with a third 5-star hotel in a suburb also having came under attack. Police claimed to have killed two terrorists, even as a police vehicle was hijacked by the attackers.

The terrorists opened fire at nearly half a dozen places in south Mumbai at around 10pm on Wednesday, and soon took hundreds, including foreigners and businessmen, hostage. Gunmen opened fire from AK-47 rifles at the city’s busiest railway terminal, CST, killing nearly 20 people.

Fear swept through the city, as frequent gunfire was heard from public places. Explosive-laden vehicles, including a taxi near the international airport, blew up. The authorities decided to call in the army early this morning and sought additional commandos from Delhi.

Terrorists took hundreds hostage in the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels in south Mumbai, minutes after they had fired with their AK-47 rifles. They threw hand-grenades at the Oberoi hotel, setting two floors aflame.

Commandos tried unsuccessfully to enter the two hotels for at least three hours. At around 1am, a fierce gun-battle broke out at the historic Taj hotel outside the Gateway of India, and flames could be seen leaping out of the dome.

The terrorists also entered a hospital and fired at patients and police. Later, they hijacked a police vehicle and disappeared into the night.

Police were clueless about the number of terrorists, their identity or their background. The surprise attack took the city of 15 million by surprise, with gunshots being heard in the tourist district of Colaba at around 10 pm.

Soon the city streets were deserted as policemen with bullet-proof vests took over south Mumbai. All roads were sealed to prevent the terrorists from escaping.

Eyewitnesses at the two hotels and at the CST railway station said the terrorists were firing indiscriminately. At the busy railway terminus, scores of passengers fell victim to the bullets. Even after midnight, the blood-stained platforms were uncleared and injured passengers could be seen lying there.

Police warned residents to stay at home as more attacks are feared.

Agencies add: Indian TV channels reported that the chief of Mumbai’s police anti-terrorist squad, Hemant Karkare, was among those killed.

Attackers also targeted the Cafe Leopold, a famous restaurant and hang-out for tourists in Mumbai. “I guess they were after foreigners, because they were asking for British or American passports,” said Rakesh Patel, a British witness who lives in Hong Kong and was staying at the Taj hotel on business. “They had bombs.”

“They came from the restaurant and took us up the stairs,” he told the NDTV news channel, smoke stains all over his face. “Young boys, maybe 20 years old, 25 years old. They had two guns.”

Maharashtra state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that an encounter was going on at the two hotels and the situation was grave. “Our men are on the job,” he added.

Maharashtra police chief A.N. Roy said: “These are terrorist strikes in at least seven places.”

Some of the injured were evacuated from the Taj on the hotel’s golden luggage carts, while waiters in black and white formal wear and chefs were seen leaving the Oberoi.

“The lobby of the Taj hotel is on fire,” a police spokesman said. “We are trying to find out how many people are inside the hotel.”

Sourav Mishra, a Reuters reporter, who was with friends at the Cafe Leopold when gunmen opened fire around 9:30pm, had suffered injuries.

“Fifty-eight bodies have been brought in. There are another 50 who are injured, some critical, who have been transferred to the nearby J.J. Hospital,” a spokesman for the city’s St George’s Hospital said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the attacks and said the Maharashtra state government would be given all the assistance required.

The head of the Madrid regional government, Esperanza Aguirre, was staying in the Taj hotel at the time of attack but she and her delegation escaped unhurt, a government spokesman in Madrid said.

The BBC News website said a British member of the European Parliament, Sajjad Karim, was also in the hotel at the time and saw a gunman open fire in the lobby.

“All I saw was one man on foot carrying a machine gun-type of weapon -- which I then saw him firing from and I saw people hitting the floor, people right next to me,” he was quoted as saying.

One British guest told local Indian television that he had been among a dozen people herded together by two heavily armed men and taken up to the hotel’s upper floors.

“They were very young, like boys really, wearing jeans and T-shirts,” the guest said.

“They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports and then they took us up the stairs. I think they wanted to take us to the roof,” he said, adding that he and another hostage had managed to escape when they reached the 18th floor.As he was speaking, there was a loud explosion from the roof of the hotel.

It was not immediately clear if some hostages were still being held.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband “unreservedly” condemned the attacks, saying they were yet another reminder “of the threat we face from violent extremists."

UPDATE - I am watching the news right now. 97 dead, 287 injured/wounded so far. This is the first time something like this has ever happened in the history of India.

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11-26-2008, 08:56 PM

This is getting worse...

Apparently they arrived in boats, fully armed and with meticulous and careful planning. Most of them are 20-28 years old. They knew exactly where and when to strike.

Mumbai is the financial capital of India. The railway station at anytime has more than 5000 people on several platforms waiting for their respective trains. Also, a lot of tourists land here because this is one of the 4-5 international airports India has.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/27slide1.jpg

The remains of a taxi near the Western Express Highway in Mumbai.

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The area near the BMC headquarters and the CST station, deserted after the attacks.

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CST station, where many people were killed in the gunfight between terrorists and the police.

The Taj Hotel on fire - http://ishare.rediff.com/filevideo.php?id=519676

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11-26-2008, 09:00 PM

Latest news till now... (all times are IST)

11:25 AM: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil has said that there can be 10 to 12 terrorists involved in the terror attack inside Taj Hotel. Five of them have been killed and one of them arrested, he told media persons outside the hotel as security forces prepared to launch an assault to end the terror.

11:09 AM: Latest reports say that the Navy and Army have taken control at Oberoi. Meanwhile, a child of foreign nationality and an Indian maid have been seen coming out of Nariman House in South Mumbai. Reports also say that US intelligence officials are among the foreigners killed at Taj Hotel.

10:57 AM: Fire brigade personnel have started rescuing people from Taj Hotel.

10:40 AM: Smoke has been seen billowing from the new building of the Taj Hotel -- which stands next to the old building where terrorists are holed up. While NSG operation was on in the old building, fire brigade personnel were trying to douse fire in the new wing.

10:30 AM: The number of policemen killed has gone up to 16. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the nation after 7 PM after the Cabinet meeting. The Maharashtra state Cabinet will meet at 2 PM.

09:30 AM: Terrorist out in the open! A terrorist holed up inside Nariman House jumps to the adjacent building. Meanwhile, an emergency Cabinet meeting has been called at 1100 hours.

09:27 AM: IB has arrested a Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist of Pakistani origin from Mumbai. The e-mail sent after terror attacks has been traced to Russia. Authorities say the mail was sent by Lashkar operatives. They also believe that the Lashkar terrorists came directly from Karachi to Mumbai.

09:30 AM: Firing has been heard near Nariman House in Colaba. Police have cordoned off the area amid reports that terrorists are holed up in the building.

09:09 AM: Curfew has been clamped in Colaba after firing intensified in the Taj hotel. Police are using smoke cannisters to disable terrorists' vision.

Meanwhile, Hostages are being evacuated from the Taj hotel even as gunbattle rages. A journalist has been injured in the firing. All international flights from Mumbai have been cancelled.

08:55 AM: Agencies have reported that terrorists are holed up inside the Cama Hospital. Commandos have started firing at terrorists.

08:05 AM: Fresh firing erupted early on Thursday in Taj hotel as commandos moved in to flush out terrorists holding some foreigners hostage.

Sharp shooters of army, NSG and other security forces moved into Mumbai's landmark hotel. Police believe that the number of holed out terrorists could be three or four.

Another luxury hotel Trident (formerly Oberoi) was under siege with some terrorists holding some foreigners hostage.

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11-26-2008, 09:06 PM

A witness says they are specifically looking for Britons and Americans...

British national Alex Chamberlain, who works for the Indian Premier League in Mumbai, was in a restaurant at the Oberoi hotel when he heard gunfire, and barely managed to escape.

When the terrorists stormed the building, he and a group of people were ushered into the kitchen. Chamberlain told Sky News that one of the waiters was shot in the arm.

"They were talking about Britons and Americans specifically. They shot people completely unnecessarily," he said.

The group of about 30 to 40 people were then "marched up like sheep" by a "young guy with a sub-machine gun, who was about 22-23."

The gunman then told people to stop and asked them to put their hands up. The attacker asked if any of the people were British or Americans.

Chamberlain said: "My Indian friend told me 'don't be a hero' and tell him you're Italian and that kind of stuff'."

Chamberlain said he got to about the 18th floor of the hotel and there was a gunman below them, and there were gunshots above and smoke everywhere.

The Briton and another person managed to sneak out of a fire door "without the gunman seeing us", where they stayed for about 15 minutes.

"I phoned my girlfriend and told her I loved her and thought it would be the last time I would talk to anyone," Chamberlain said.

He then walked "slowly downstairs expecting to see somebody with a gun around the corner" but they had gone.

He then smashed a window. He said: "the smoke was so thick I thought we were going to suffocate".

Chamberlain said he walked into the lobby and when he came out into the street there were about 20 police officers there "looking just as scared as any of us" and a few fire engines.

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11-26-2008, 09:26 PM

Pic of a suspected terrorist (taken by someone with a cell camera)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/27terrorist.jpg.

United States on Wednesday strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and said Washington stands ready to support India. "We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Mumbai. "Our sympathies go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured, and to the people of Mumbai", the State department said.

"We are monitoring the situation very closely and stand ready to support the Indian authorities as they deal with this horrific series of attacks. At this point, we are unaware of any American casualties," it added.

Strongly condemning the terror attacks in Mumbai, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday the 'outrageous' attacks in Mumbai will be met with a 'vigorous response'.

"I have sent a message to Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh that the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond," he said, adding the UK is ready to offer all necessary help to India. "Urgent action is underway to offer every possible protection to British citizens in the region," Brown said. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the attacks were a reminder of the threat from violent extremists. "I condemn these attacks unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured," he said.
The UK and India will continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists."

Canada too has strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

In a teleconference with the media, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said, 'Canada strongly condemns the savage terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which have left hundreds of innocent civilians injured or killed. These cowardly attacks are truly appalling.'

Speaking on behalf of all Canadians, he extended his 'condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We are working with the Indian authorities to assist any Canadians who may have been directly affected by these events. We will continue to monitor events as they develop.'

According to highly reliable intelligence sources, two boatfuls of weapons and some 18-20 terrorists most likely came from Karachi in Pakistan.
Intelligence agencies are zeroing in on the Lashkar-e-Tayiba as the agency behind the terror attacks.

The initial interrogation of terrorists captured in Mumbai has yielded some basic information. According to sources, for some time the directions kept coming "live" to the terrorists in Mumbai via satellite phones.

The intelligence sources said information is coming out quite rapidly because some six terrorists, who are in the custody of the Mumbai police, are under interrogation right now. He said the entire operation was led by Pakistani operators of the LeT but he doesn't rule out the involvement of some local youngsters in it.

"They are successful and we have failed," said the police officer with the agency. He said these attacks show that "the terrorists want to show that India is an unsafe place to do business in. The way they have focused on foreigners, they want to make Mumbai unattractive for foreign nationals."

neverending

11-26-2008, 09:29 PM

This is shocking and terrible news.

My thoughts will be with you and all your countrymen, V... hoping for a swift end to these hostilities.

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11-26-2008, 09:36 PM

Thanks, NE. Hopefully the Army and the Govt will get the situation under control. The swiftness and the total surprise attack, that too on a major city, is what has taken the whole country by storm.

United States President-elect Barack Obama called US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to get an update on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. He then immediately called Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen to offer his condolences at the loss of innocent lives at the hands of this wanton violence perpetrated by the terrorists.

A spokesman for Obama told rediff.com on background that "this evening, the president-elect called Secretary of State Rice to get an update and status report on the situation in Mumbai."

"President-elect Obama then called Indian Ambassador (Ronen) Sen and conveyed that his thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic situation," the spokesman said."

Obama, the spokesman, added had told the ambassador that "there is just one president at a time. He also told him that he is monitoring the situation and has been in communication with Secretary Rice."

Earlier, Obama Transition Chief National Security spokesperson Brooke Anderson in a statement said 'President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India.'

'These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grate and urgent threat of terrorism,' she said.

Anderson said 'the United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks.'

'We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to these attacks,' the statement added.

Sources earlier told rediff.com that the Bush administration is closely monitoring the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and its aftermath.

Officials are keeping President George W Bush -- who is at the presidential retreat at Camp David for the Thanksgiving holidays -- apprised about the situation in Mumbai.

On the president's directive, officials have also kept Obama's national security team posted with all the latest information to make sure "they are in the loop."

Meanwhile, the State Department has provided Americans who believe that a relative or friend has been affected by the attacks in Mumbai a number to call: 1-888-407-4747.

bwind22

11-26-2008, 10:52 PM

Pic of a suspected terrorist (taken by someone with a cell camera)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/27terrorist.jpg.

Nothing suspected about him. That motherfucker's running around with an automatic weapon.

Sounds like things are getting under control now and hostages are starting to get freed. Hopefully they catch and suitably punish the bastards responsible.

Are you IN Indiana V, or from there? The only person I actually know that lives in India actually lives in Mumbai but I've had contact with him since all this shit started going on and he's okay. Hopefully all your friends and family are as well.

hacelikewhoa

11-26-2008, 11:01 PM

This is just terrible. I had a feeling that 9/11 was only the beginning of many more attacks. But why India?

bwind22

11-26-2008, 11:08 PM

Well, this occured exactly 1 day after India announced the formation of a national terrorism task force. My guess is the timing there is coincidental though as this seems like something that has probably been plotted out for a while.

Who really knows why these fuckers like to attack and kill innocent people seemingly at random. They probably hit India because there are more Hindus than Muslims there or maybe because of their tolerance of the Jewish faith, or their ties to the US. Who knows? There's not always logic behind insanity.

bloodrayne

11-26-2008, 11:18 PM

V, how close is this to your house?...Is your family okay?...Are there any indications that it could get anywhere near where you live?

This is pretty scary...I hope you guys are okay.

OH, and Roshiq!...Bangladesh is to India like Canada is to America...Do you have any family in India?

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11-26-2008, 11:37 PM

For now, yes. I am pretty far from there, about 500 miles. I am at my office computer, and all of us are tuned into the news as we work. The only worrying fact - if any/all of those who havent been captured or killed yet decide to flee the place and get into the country, we are fucked.

I have a cousin who is in the movie biz in Mumbai (he works as a music composer and sound mixer) and talked to him. He's currently in NY doing some work for a new movie so he is safe. His family is in Mumbai though, and they are in the northern part of the city, holed inside their apartment.

Latest news say the terrorists are holding about 50 people hostage in each of the two hotels they have captured - the Taj and the Oberoi. They have demanded ransom but the police are wary that the ransom demand is only a ruse.

In addition, several unidentified ships are floating aimlessly along the Mumbai shores. The Navy has been warning them to stay off Indian waters, and they are quickly retreating back to international waters when they get such warnings. The Navy is concerned that some of them might be hiding more terrorists, who might try to come in as reinforcements.

Shooting and gunfights still continue in several parts of South Mumbai. Right now, about 120 killed and 350 injured.

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11-26-2008, 11:40 PM

Professor Deepa Ollapally has said the scale and sophistication of the Mumbai terrorist attacks leave one with the impression that it has all of the hallmarks of an Al Qaeda inspired attack, probably well-financed by outside forces.

Ollapally, professorial lecturer and associate director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, also told that the name Deccan Mujahideen, akin to the earlier terrorist attack claimants calling themselves Indian Mujahideen, was obviously a ploy to confuse people that the terrorists were indigenous and home-grown, when it was highly unlikely it was so.

"Not only is it unprecedented, but also the fact that this group apparently laying claim for this -- the Deccan Mujahideen -- is completely unknown, and so the question is, these new names are now coming up, no one really knows what the true source of these are."

Ollapally said, "It's almost as if they are playing a guessing game, and it's a pattern you've seen in other places. You've seen it, when a group is banned they come up with a different name. But, also having these different names, it creates a lot of confusion because Indian Mujahideen, Deccan Mujahideen, they are trying to associate themselves as being internal, indigenous, home-grown and all that."

Ollapally said, "The way in which this was carried out, it does suggest that they needed some fairly sophisticated, coordinated planning. And, if the reports are true about their rounding up Americans and British, then it sounds like there is an Al Qaeda hand possibly, which again would be the most obvious difference between every other terrorist attack that has gone on before (in India)."

"And, then the point of, what is the motive for this. It's not as if something sparked it off. It's really not clear. The question is, whether it's a new phenomenon. Is it a new strategy? What then is the objective?"

She acknowledged, "Who knows if it had anything to do with the presidential transition here in the US? And, there are elections coming up in India also. So, that's the other thing -- whether it is to destabilise India. And, there have been criticism that the current government has not been acting swiftly and so forth," to combat the scourge of terrorism in India.

"So, they can use this for electoral reasons also," Ollapally said, "but again, all this is complete speculation."

However, she agreed that "there has been all this speculation about testing the US, the incoming administration, although this doesn't really jell. I mean, if it were the Al Qaeda and they wanted to test Obama, there are other places where they can do it that would be much more front and centre that would capture the US attention much more. So, this seems probably a little far-fetched."

Ollapally also speculated that "on the one hand, you've got the Indian foreign minister and the Pakistani foreign minister speaking and they have been making some progress and so forth, so this could be to destabilise that -- to throw these talks off."

She recalled that "when the Indian embassy in Afghanistan was bombed, the US intelligence did find the Pakistani intelligence connected. So, you cannot rule out any of these things."

"It's one thing to have summitry between India and Pakistan, but the point is, unless Pakistan really cracks down on the groups that operate there -- and that requires almost a mini internal war on terrorism -- this is not going to stop."

bloodrayne

11-26-2008, 11:41 PM

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11-26-2008, 11:44 PM

At least three foreigners, including a Briton, were killed and 18 others injured when heavily-armed terrorists attacked two luxury hotels and other places in southern Mumbai.

Besides a British national, the foreigners killed in the attacks were an Australian and a Japanese.

British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg said the UK national died in the attack in the Taj hotel, where seven of his compatriots were also injured. He did not identify the victims.

The slain Japanese national was identified as Hisa Phuda (41), who was brought dead to the Bombay hospital in south Mumbai last Wednesday night, hospital sources said.

Australian, Braid Gilbert Taylor (49), was also brought dead to St George hospital in south Mumbai, officials said.

Eleven other foreigners of different nationalities were injured in the terror strikes and were admitted to the Bombay Hospital.

Hospital sources said the injured foreigners are from Australia, USA, Norway, Spain, Canada and Singapore.

An Australian TV actress, who was trapped inside Mumbai's Taj Hotel when terrorists went on a shooting spree, hid herself in a two-by-three metre cupboard for an hour to escape death.

Brooke Satchwell, former star of soap opera Neighbours, told a radio portal that she was inside the ground-floor toilets when the attack happened and "everyone just froze". "As I stepped into the bathroom you could hear machine-gun fire start up in the lobby," she told the radio portal. "People started locking themselves into the toilet cubicles, which clearly wasn't a very good idea. But we were trying to find somewhere to hide," she said.

Satchwell, along with her boyfriend and about eight other foreigners, has now been moved to another hotel in south Mumbai, whose location was not disclosed for security reasons.

"I can't even get my leg dressed, we can't go to the airport, that's been bombed, we can't go to the police centres, they've been bombed," Satchwell's boyfriend told the Herald from the hotel.

Recalling her ordeal at the Taj Hotel, the actress told the portal that hotel staff directed the group into the service cupboard, where she waited for up to an hour, hearing bursts of gunfire.

"Some of the hotel security came and ushered us very quickly down the corridor and across the lobby, clearly no one had a very good idea of what happened ... or where we were meant to be heading at that stage," Satchwell said.

At least 20 Australians were in the nearby Oberoi hotel, which also came under attack, all of them members of a New South Wales delegation organised by the Department of State and Regional Development.

Meanwhile, an Australian bride, who had just moved to Mumbai, said the city was in chaos. Chloe Papazahariakis told the Nine Network that Mumbai was in "total lockdown".

"I've just moved to this beautiful city to marry my husband in four days and I've got about 20 friends here for the wedding in the midst of all this chaos," she said. Papazahariakis was speaking from the restaurant where her reception was to be held. A nearby hospital had been bombed by terrorists, she said adding, "We just can't believe it."

"They are targeting every suburb in this city but the most tragic thing is that for the first time ever they are targeting big-time foreigners and five-star hotels," Papazahariakis said.

roshiq

11-26-2008, 11:45 PM

OMG!

That's really shocking & terrible indeed. After Pakistan and now those God damned suckers have now begins their sadistic activities in India..and according to the geographical condition...now it seems we aren't safe also here in Bangladesh as I like to also mention that we have suffered also in August 17, 2006: Bomb blasted at 64 different districts around the country that time..but the causalities were less than its type. Anyways, as far I know for the last couple of years there were also many other terrorist attacks had been occurred in India but obviously not as outrageous or vicious like this one. Even my parents had a tour in India probably early of this year and just after the next day they visited The Azmir Sharif, there was a bomb blast! That really scared the hell out of us.

My thoughts will be with you and all your countrymen, V... hoping for a swift end to these hostilities.

Same here. Hope the city gets it life back again asap. But the thing is this whole attack will definitely have a severe impact all over the sub continent.

OH, and Roshiq!...Bangladesh is to India like Canada is to America...Do you have any family in India?

No..none. One of my uncle & aunt (who are now living in US for almost 30 years but currently living in Qatar for some official project works) have been planning for many days that they'll have a vacation in India in this coming December, but I think they may have to cancel their whole tour now.

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11-26-2008, 11:46 PM

Latest news as we speak... (all times are IST, it is now 2:16 PM IST)

02:10 PM: 40 bodies found in 4 floors of Taj Hotel.

01:50 PM: Director General of Police A N Roy says all people trapped inside Taj Hotel have been rescued and the hostage situation is over. "No negotiations with the terrorists. Either we will kill them or nab them alive," says Roy. Meanwhile, an National Security Guard spokesman says 200 more NSG commandos were being rushed to Mumbai.

01:13 PM: Trident Hotel (formerly Oberoi), has said that it is under the control of police and security forces, and they are monitoring the situation in wake of the terrorist strike.

01:23 PM: Handgrenades lobbed from Oberoi Hotel in south Mumbai where terrorists are holed up.

12:42 PM: Police say one terrorist holed up inside Nariman House has been killed. Six more terrorists are suspected to be hiding inside the building.

12:14 PM: At least four terrorists are holed up in the Taj Hotel where 40 to 50 guests were still trapped, says Major R K Hooda, General Officer Commanding of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. Two bodies have been brought out of the Taj Hotel and taken away in an ambulance.

_____V_____

11-26-2008, 11:51 PM

That's what I was thinking when I asked if there was any indication that it could reach you...How would they know if they have caught them all, and where will they go when they run?!...I'll be worried about you...Is there any way to get your cousin's family out of there?...I saw on the news that they were telling everyone to stay in their homes, lock their doors and windows, and don't go out in the street for anything...That is TRULY freaking scary.

Nope. There's no way of getting them out of there. Mumbai is under total lockdown right now.

There is no way of knowing how many is the actual number, and how many might actually sneak into the country. Like I said, if that actually happens, we are fucked.

bwind22

11-26-2008, 11:54 PM

01:50 PM: Director General of Police A N Roy says all people trapped inside Taj Hotel have been rescued and the hostage situation is over. "No negotiations with the terrorists. Either we will kill them or nab them alive," says Roy.

Fuckin' right. Roy's got the right attitude for dealing with these pieces of shit.

bloodrayne

11-26-2008, 11:56 PM

No..none. One of my uncle & aunt (who are now living in US for almost 30 years but currently living in Qatar for some official project works) have been planning for many days that they'll have a vacation in India in this coming December, but I think they may have to cancel their whole tour now.

That's a relief, for now anyway...If they truly are from Pakistan, their problem is with India...I think you guys will be safe over there on the other side...And I definitely HOPE that you will be safe!

V, I'm going to try to get you on Yahoo.

_____V_____

11-26-2008, 11:57 PM

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/27sl1.jpg

Foreign tourists watch as smoke billows from the historic Taj Mahal Hotel in south Mumbai on November 27, 2008, one of the landmark sites attacked by terrorists.

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Commandos assemble at the entrance to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on November 27, 2008 to flush out the terrorists holed up in the hotel.

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Firefighters use a hoist to rescue a woman from flames at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai early November 27, 2008. Parts of the hotel were set afire by heavily armed terrorists after they took shelter inside and held several guests hostage.

roshiq

11-27-2008, 12:00 AM

Fuckin' right. Roy's got the right attitude for dealing with these pieces of shit.

Ditto....!

bwind22

11-27-2008, 12:08 AM

V or Roshiq, what percentage of the people in the entire Middle East region would you estimate hold militant Islamic views? Would you say it's like 1 out of every 100,000 people? 1 out of every 10,000? 1 out of every 1000? 1 out of every 100? 5% of the population? 25%? Etc... What would be your best estimate?

From over here, it's very tough to get a handle on how widespread the Islamic extremism is over in the middle East because our media does not paint fair pictures of what is really going on over there. You guys would probably have a better idea. Just curious.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 12:15 AM

1 out of every 10,000 would be a good estimate. This place is actually full of Hindu extremists - there arent many instances of Islamic extremists coming to the fore except terrorist attacks. They are more centered in Kashmir and the border areas.

But lately, they have been striking at all the major cities. The attack on the Parliament, blasts in Bangalore and other cities...etc.

Something like this was bound to happen...but nobody saw it coming THIS soon.

LATEST NEWS :

02:33 PM: Navy helicopters are chasing a ship, which is believed to have dropped terrorists near Bombay. Navy Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta is closely monitoring the situation.

02:10 PM: Reports have come in that the first 4 floors of the six-storeyed Taj Hotel have been sanitised. Forty bodies have been recovered so far. NSG sources add that four fidayeen (suicide bombers) have been killed in the final assault.

bwind22

11-27-2008, 12:21 AM

bwind22

11-27-2008, 12:26 AM

Is India considered the Middle East or just southeast Asia? I know it borders Pakistan which to us in the US is generally thought of as part of the Middle East.

roshiq

11-27-2008, 01:30 AM

"1 out of every 10,000 would be a good estimate. "
See, we have stupid rednecks and racists here that think the solution to the terrorist problem is for the US to simply nuke the entire middle east. I try to explain to them how retarded that sounds and that the vast majority of people in the region are not extremists but the people that are dumb enough to think that way are also too stupid to see the flaws in their own logic. They don't realize that for every 1 terrorist they'd kill, they'd be killing 9,999 innocent people. I actually just had this discussion today with a guest at my hotel (which is extra frustrating since I am working and I can't just come right out and call him stupid.)

Yeah..you got that right.

Is India considered the Middle East or just southeast Asia? I know it borders Pakistan which to us in the US is generally thought of as part of the Middle East.

:D yeah...it's Southeast Asia. But anyway, the scenario is more or less same.

I think the anger about the middle East and Afganistan issue probably turned those illiterate & hot headed stupid group of people into modern days' maniacs!

But the question is...how they could go into a country & successfully able to make such a terrible attack in these days? After 9/11+the other terrorist attacks that happened in recent times in India & Pakistan..the security & intelligence force supposed to be more alert than usual. Even I have heard some few months back from one of my friends who often need to go Kolkata (India) for his mother's cancer treatment that...in border areas BSS (Indian BORDER SECURITY FORCE) just started to taking some extra cautions and for that even the women & kids also sometime suffered severe harassment; as they have been doubted that in earlier days some terrorists also trained & came from Bangladesh. For the shake of national & its peoples' security & safety I think that's alright...they or anyone should look upon the every suspected matter very carefully.
But how could this happened in a port city like Mumbai this day?
I think there may be some major foot holes in their security or intelligence system or may be the terrorists have very well trained agent in their intelligence network.
Overall, to deal with this kinda terrorist groups worldwide the different intelligence networks should develop, approach & apply in a long time...well crafted methods. To confront the terrorism by attacking a whole country or some towns will not deliver a solution, instead that may just give birth some new terrorists everyday & resulting such vicious attacks and in both cases the general innocent people becomes the sufferer and the victims.

urgeok2

11-27-2008, 01:50 AM

terrible news - very depressing.
i read this and it feels like the world is ending.

hammerfan

11-27-2008, 02:16 AM

V and roshiq, my prayers are with you both. This is horrible news. It feels like the world is spiraling out of control.

GorePhobia

11-27-2008, 02:40 AM

My thoughts and prayers to anyone and everyone involved in these horrific events.

V I have you in my thoughts and I hope you are alright and they get everything situated and you continue to be safe.

ManchestrMorgue

11-27-2008, 03:13 AM

Wow, this is horrible.

V, we are thinking of you mate. Hope you stay safe and things improve soon.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 03:16 AM

Thanks, guys.

I am quite some distance away from all that action, but yes, the whole country is on Red Alert right now.

The Govt is preparing for another possible bigger and comprehensive attack on all the major cities and centres right now, and planes have been kept on standby for all the prominent leaders to be transported to a safe location, should there be any attack on Delhi, the capital.

Latest News (all times in IST...it is now 5 44 PM)

05:31 PM: Commandos are in NCPA apartments across the road from Trident hotel, and firing at the terrorists, police officers said.

05: 26 PM: Gunshots have been heard from inside Oberoi hotel where terrorists are holding around 35 people hostage.

05:08 PM: IAF keeps seven transport aircraft and one VVIP aircraft on standby in Delhi for airlifting troops and leaders at short notice.

05:05 PM: Grenade sound could be heard from Nariman House building. The residents of Prem Bhavan, next door, have moved out. Nariman House area wears a deserted look.

04:55 PM: About 18 to 20 rounds of gunfire has been reported from Trident Hotel.

04:45 PM: Lot more commandos have arrived outside Nariman House. A team of commandos is scaling the building. Helicopters overhead are providing cover.

04:25 PM: Loud explosion has been heard outside Taj Hotel.

03:54 PM: Third grenade blast has been reported from the Trident Hotel (Oberoi).

03:15 PM: Two grenade blasts have been heard from Trident hotel.

02:54 PM: Grenade blast has been reported from Nariman House in south Mumbai, where six terrorists are holed up. One terrorist had been gunned down earlier.

02:33 PM: Navy helicopters are chasing a Vietnamese registered ship, MV Alpha, which is believed to have dropped terrorists near Bombay. Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta is closely monitoring the situation.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 03:21 AM

Ismail, a Punjabi from Faridkot in Pakistan, was arrested by the Mumbai police on Wednesday night during the terrorist attacks.

Police sources said Ismail is giving his interrogators the complete story of how the sensational terror operation was planned and executed.

He has told the Mumbai police that he has been trained by the Pakistan-based Lashkar e Tayiba, said police sources, giving chilling details of the most daring terror attack on India that has so far killed more than 101 people -- and the horror story is not over yet.

The Indian Navy which intercepted and boarded the MV Alpha, a Vietnamese registered ship, let off the ship after questioning the crew and checking the ship's papers, which were found to be in order.

"The ship that was intercepted has been searched in accordance with international laws. Its papers were found in order and nothing suspicous was found," said Captain Nambiar, PRO Defence, Mumbai.

The ship was travelling on the Panama route.

In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that those behind the terror attack in Mumbai were from outside India.

He promised that: "We will take the strongest possible action. We'll take a number of measures to strengthen our security forces."

He also said the National Security Act will be enforced so that terrorists cannot escape the clutches of law. A Federal Investigation Authority will be set up to fight terror in a co-ordinated manner, he added.

He said India will take up with neighbouring country the use of their territory to launch attacks against the country.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 03:33 AM

The chief landmarks which were targetted by the terrorists:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/TajHotel.jpg

(Taj Intercontinental Hotel on the left, Gateway of India on the right)

The terrorists selected Mumbai's landmark locations as venues for their murderous mayhem. These prominent and beloved Mumbai spots are part of the city's heritage, sites that Mumbaikars are extremely proud of.

'The Taj' means you are referring to that beautiful, 105-year-old hotel opposite the Gateway of India. There are other Taj properties in Mumbai, but the Taj has always meant that iconic building which is as much a symbol of the city as the imposing Gateway.

It stands proudly on Apollo Bunder -- Bunder meaning harbour -- promenade, which is a part of colonial Mumbai. It is a popular spot for walkers and sightseers. If you have been a visitor to Mumbai, this is a part of the city you would probably have visited first.

The old Taj, with its sweeping staircase and classic wood work, is not surprisingly one of the country's most expensive hotels. The Sea Lounge, its cherished cafe, overlooks the sail boats in the harbour and is known for its view as much for its trademark fare. Many Mumbaikars wept when they saw the dome of the Taj go up in flames early on Thursday morning.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/VTstation.jpg

It has been years since this treasure of Mumbai was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus after the great Maratha monarch, but it has remained VT (for Victoria Terminus) for many Mumbaikars.

The Central Railways's main terminus has remained the symbol of Mumbai buzz, where millions hop off onto its platforms every day. It is also been a snapshot of the city of dreams as captured in Hindi films with scenes of outsiders entering the city and building their lives here, thus adding to the charisma and sense of possibility that Mumbai offers.

One of Mumbai's most beautiful buildings -- completed in 1888 -- flagged off India's first train 155 years ago and is at the heart of the city's heritage quarter.

On a Sunday morning, if you stand across the street from this marvel, you can gaze at it for hours, such is its unique beauty. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2004. Nothing in Mumbai has been able to match up to the grandeur of this imposing work of art.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/LeopoldCafe.jpg

Cafe Leopold, the thriving, throbbing pub on chic Colaba Causeway is a popular hangout for locals and foreigners alike.

Established in 1871, Leopold is one of Mumbai's all time favourite pubs, a place cool enough for all sorts of people. You can see college students, single women enjoying a beer and diners having a good time at the cafe's closely placed tables at all times of the day.

Newer shops and eating places may have sprung up by the dozens on the Causeway, but Leos, as Mumbai call the bistro, has stood the test of time.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/OberoiHotel.jpg

At the extreme end of Marine Drive, the city's chimeric promenade, by the Arabian Sea stands the Oberoi Hotel.

There was a time the Taj and the Oberoi were really the only two five star hotels in town. Its old building was called the 'Old Oberoi' while the newer part was simply called the 'new Oberoi'. A couple of years ago, the old Oberoi was rebranded as the Trident, and remains a prominent venue for business and corporate conferences in South Mumbai.

It has a fantastic view of the ocean and both its buildings are connected by a short walk from within the hotels. It is the only Oberoi property in Mumbai and remains the most sought after venue for the city's corporate world.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/CamaHospital.jpg

Of all the landmarks selected by the cowardly terrorists, the Cama hospital is comparatively lesser known than the other sites. It is an old colonial building situated on a leafy promenade, flanked by St Xavier's College and the Esplanade Court.

It dates back to 1886 and was refurbished a few years ago. It is a hospital for women and children.

The terrorists stormed into the hospital on Wednesday night and started firing incessantly at the patients, killing several of them, before holing up in the upper floors and warding off police attempts at rescuing the remaining patients and hospital staff.

La Chat Noire

11-27-2008, 04:12 AM

This is so sad to hear about...my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 04:38 AM

Just to give you folks an idea about my city's location...here is a road map of western-central India...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/location.jpg

This is a map of Mumbai and its affected areas...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/27kbk.jpg

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard on Thursday pressed into service warships and surveillance aircraft to scour the high seas in and around Mumbai to look for 'Mother Ship' which could have ferried the terrorists who carried out attacks in this metropolis.

"The Naval and Coast Guards ships have since this morning intercepted and checked antecedents of all the vessels operating or moored around the metropolis," Vice-admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command said in Mumbai.

The surveillance of large areas of the Arabian Sea is still on, Bedi said as he disclosed that two naval warships along with vessels from the Coast Guard, helicopter and

Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft were involved in the massive sea-hunt.

These comments come in the wake of eye-witnesses saying they had seen young men in their early twenties carrying heavy rucksacks disgorge from high speed boats off the Gateway of India.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said that the terrorists got ashore in South Mumbai using boats.

"We have been boarding a number of vessels and so far we have found that most of the ships searched has valid papers," the Admiral told NDTV.

His clarifications came as earlier reports has said that naval warships were in hot pursuit of a suspicious looking vessel which could have disgorged these terrorists near the Mumbai coast.

"The information regarding the terrorists having come by boat or sea is still not authenticated," Bedi said.

He said any information if state authorities had about the terrorists taking the sea route had not been shared with the navy.

Bedi said that the state chief secretary had got in touch with him around mid-night to ask for deployment of specialised Marcos commandos against the terrorists.

He said two units of Marcos which had been withdrawn after day-break had been re-deployed to take part in the final assault.

Rijad Mehad, an official of Jordanian Airlines who was present at the Oberoi Hotel said he was rushing back home.

"Three people came into the hotel and started shooting indiscriminately in the lobby. I was taken aback and had no idea what to do and why they were firing. I just ducked but I injured my head in the melee. I saw eight people dying in front of me," said Mehad.

Asked if he saw any of the terrorists, he said, "I could not see them because they were firing indiscriminately and at that time nothing strikes you but the fact that you have to duck and lie on ground to save your life."

Veronica Murphy, a British citizen, said, "I was lucky as I was only 100 metres away from the firing incident at Leopold Cafe in Colaba last night. I was on the periphery and I must tell you that Indians were very protective towards me and they ensured that we don't get hurt in any way."

Asked will she leave India, Murphy said, "No way. I am taking a train to south India tomorrow and I am not scared. Terrorism is everywhere in the world and even England was affected by that. You cannot allow these terrorists to rule and ruin your life. I will not allow that to happen."

LATEST UPDATE :- The group leader, or so-called mastermind of this entire terrorist attack, has been murdered by his own men. His body has been recovered by the NSG commandos, and the terrorists have escaped the spot. Intelligence officials are suspecting the entire group was actually a sort of "suicide squad", whose only mission was to destroy, terrorise and ultimately commit suicide/die.

More updates when I get back on.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 05:19 AM

About 200 people are still trapped inside Trident (Oberoi) hotel in Mumbai and five to six staff members of the luxury hotel have been killed in the night-long terror siege.

"Altogether there would be around 200 people inside the Oberoi complex in Mumbai. We believe that not less than 100 people are at the Oberoi side and not less than 100 people inside the Trident side," Vice Chairman of Oberoi Hotels, S S Mukherjee, told NDTV.

The plush hotel is currently surrounded by army and National Security Guards commandos in order to launch an offensive to flush out the holed-up terrorists and rescue hostages.

"We have definite information that the casualty of our staff is about five-six," he said.

Putting last night's occupancy at the hotel around 375-385, Mukherjee said the terrorists "have not gone down the basement and have only gone to the upper floors".

The battle between terrorists and the security forces is likely to continue till mid-night or even till Friday as the terrorists are just unwilling to give up.

They fire at policemen and army commandos whenever they try to get close to them.

At 5 pm, one of the security personnel came under fire when he attempted to enter the Trident (formerly Oberoi) Hotel from the back door. The intensity of fire was so huge that people standing nearly 500 metres away from site panicked.

The commandos now have taken positions at the NCPA building opposite the hotel and are firing from there. They seem to be doing so to divert the attention of the terrorists and allow as many commandos to get inside the hotel. The strategy seems to be to try and make the terrorists expend their ammunition. Unfortunately, no one knows how well equipped the terrorists are and how much ammunition they have.

Another hindrance for commandos is the fact that they don't know how many terrorists are holed up in the hotel.

Meanwhile, guests trapped in the hotel just don't know what to do. If they come out they risk getting caught in the cross-fire. However some are taking the risk and coming out with the help of commandos who have entered the hotel. But since morning not more than a dozen people have came out.

One can see many guests waving from their windows to passersby and journalists who have camped since last night.

UPDATE: As I type this, twin blasts have been reported from behind the Oberoi hotel, and the entire backside of the hotel is engulfed in huge flames.

newb

11-27-2008, 06:25 AM

What horrible news. I'm getting that same sinking feeling I got after 9/11.

My thoughts are with you V and the people of India. And what a beautiful country it is.

I was going to make a Happy Thanksgiving thread.....but out of respect ...I won't.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 06:40 AM

Thanks, bud.

But TG is a wonderful occasion to celebrate peace, love and goodwill, so please go ahead and do so. :)

Latest News (all times in IST)... (the time now is 9 08 PM)

09:10 PM: Five more foreigners have been evacuated from Hotel Trident.

The operation at Hotel Taj is reportedly over. All terrorists at Taj Hotel have been killed by the security personnel. The situation is under control.

At Nariman House, commandos have started entering the building as the offensive against the terrorists escalates.

08:30 PM: Reports from the Taj Hotel say that massive explosions are taking place inside the hotel.

A major fire has broken out at the Trident Hotel. The 13th and 14th floors of the hotel are on fire.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has left for Mumbai, in the wake of the terror attack.

The ongoing operations against terrorists in three places were in their final stages and would be over soon, says Maharashtra Director General of Police A N Roy.

Major General R K Hooda, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra area, said that the Army and other security agencies had completed the first round of room-to-room combing at the Taj Mahal Hotel. But he said the operation was not yet over and there may still be terrorists holed up inside the hotel.

A huge convoy of army trucks has reached Nariman House. A BEST van can also be seen in the vicinity, and it might be there to cut off the power supply to the building. Two Israeli families have been reportedly held hostage in Nariman House.

08:00 PM: The Taj Hotel's General Manager's wife and three children have been reportedly killed in the attack.

The locals are distributing biscuits to the security personnel deployed at the Nariman House. An ambulance, from Saifee Hospital, is distributing water.

The chief of the Special Action Group has arrived.

07:49 PM: This road in the heart of Mumbai's tourist district looks worse than a scene from Kashmir. The range of forces here is incredible. The deployed personnel are from the NSG, RAF and Black Cats, apart from the city's police.

The city hadn't witnessed such a tight security blanket even during the infamous Mumbai riots.

06:07 PM: 70 more people have been evacuated from Trident.

05:45 PM: Lashkar-e-Tayiba has denied involvement in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Death toll in Mumbai terror attacks 101; 288 injured, six of them critically, says Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Security forces recovered 40 bodies in the first four floors of the six-storeyed Taj Hotel. National Security Guard sources add that four fidayeen (suicide bombers) have been killed in the assault.

National Security Guard commandos and personnel of the Mumbai Police are carrying out systematical floor-to-floor cleaning up operations. Most of the hotel has been sanitised by now.

The terrorists had burst into lobby of the hotel last night from four places with all guns blazing. They first shot at three female receptionists manning the front desk. They then went into the hotel.

NSG sources said the fidayeen made an attempt to escape last night, but retreated when they saw the NSG approaching. The threw grenades at the commandos.

Director General of Police A N Roy said 15 police personnel, including officers, have been killed in the operations. Twenty five police personnel have been injured.

R K Krishna Kumar, vice chairman, Indian Hotels, which owns the under-attack Hotel Taj in South Mumbai, told a television channel said it is tough to say when the operation would get over.

Kumar said they have not been able to able to determine exact casualty figures but said it could be in the region of 50�60 people, adding that the army now has control of the hotel. "The first attack took place on the heritage wing of the hotel and then on the tower block," he said. Kumar added that the family of the hotel's senior management was caught in the fire, and some of the hotel's staff including five chefs had lost their lives.

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 06:59 AM

Philip Badje, eyewitness, tells his account to CBS News...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDt8e3YuWOk

_____V_____

11-27-2008, 07:03 AM

The Whole Story (as deduced and inferred by govt, political and intelligence sources)

First and foremost, Indian intelligence is more or less conceding that the shocking attacks in Mumbai represent a major success for the Lashkar.

Second, the operation is not solely directed against foreign nationals in Mumbai, as some reports have claimed. The large number of deaths of Mumbaikars suggests that they have fired indiscriminately, and revenge was on their mind.

The terrorist arrested by the Mumbai police is vehemently opposed to Isreal's action in the Middle-East and is upset about the "treatment" of Muslims in India in general. According to sources, the ethnic, Punjabi-speaking Ismail has told the Mumbai police that the issue of "injustice" to Muslims in India by Hindus and the Indian establishment inspired him to pick up arms.

According to police sources, one Greek, one German couple, two American intelligence officials and a Frenchman are dead in the attacks, but it is not yet confirmed. When the American embassy was contacted, their response was: "No comments." They neither denied nor confirmed the report.

Intelligence sources also claimed that it is likely that the Pakistani national terrorist wanted to remind Indians that their hotels can also face a similar fate as Hotel Marriott, Islamabad. In a terror attack in September, a suicide bomber rammed his truck into the Marriott, killing more than 60 people.

It is clear from the selection of the spots attacked that the terrorists wanted to show India in as bad a light as Pakistan. The entire show was to prove that India is facing no less of anarchy than its western neighbour. The Indian system is making its people feel as insecure as Pakistanis feel due to their weak systems, was the message the masterminds of the terror attack wanted to convey.

The high-level sources also say that Al Qaeda's ideology has been imbibed by innumerable small and regional outfits, but only the LeT can manage a Mumbai kind of operation, so there are more chances of the LeT's hand and brain being behind this operation.

As it has happened many times before, according to sources in the home ministry, in the third week of September India had received information from American sources that there could be a large-scale operation within India by the Lashkar e Tayiba. A source in the home ministry also claimed that the Research and Analysis Wing had passed on this information to the Intelligence Bureau and in turn they had sent this information to the Maharashtra police.

Again, some six days later, the information was circulated from New Delhi to Mumbai police that hotels in Mumbai will be targeted by the Lashkar. The police source claims that the name of Taj Mahal Hotel was specifically mentioned. Accordingly, the hotel's security had been increased but in two months time that have fallen into a routine, it seems.

Also, on the basis of vague information the local police has no time to build up the entire case of a possible terror act, says the same source. Since information like this is vague, the police now claims that it is very difficult to act upon it.

A senior officer of the ministry told that one of the top Lashkar operatives, Yousuf Muzamil, has most probably directed the entire terror attack. The Lashkar has changed its name to Jamaat ud Dawa and is headed by Hafeez Mohammed Saeed and is headquartered in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

According to information collected by the police, on Wednesday evening, around 10 Pakistanis came by speed boats to the coast near Colaba in South Mumbai from Karachi. From fishing trawls they shifted to dinghies to reach Mumbai, and the transfer took place somewhere near Gujarat. Alert and smart fisherfolk could notice that some unknown characters in casual clothes had alighted. They were surprised to see unknown faces and the unusually large bags they were carrying.

Immediately they drew the attention of the local policemen from the nearby police post at Budhwar Park, Colaba. Within two hours of the fishermen's complaint to the police the terrorists had struck at Taj Mahal Hotel and at Trident hotel, Nariman House owned by Jews, and in Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and a few other places. It was a meticulous and well-planned operation which has given the perpetrators of the horrific act a tremendous boost.

While in Trident hotel between four and seven terrorists were involved, while in Taj Mahal hotel three to four terrorists created havoc. According to Ismail, there no Arabs in their group.

The Mumbai police has got information that some six-seven days back terrorists had made a dry run also. This act leads to them believe that some local people could be involved in the terror attack, too.

At this point in time the police believes that at least one of the terrorists has managed to escape.