Terror Attacks in Mumbai

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 06:54

{Deleted. DMurphy, this was the start of a mini-flame war that I have spent the last 15 minutes cleaning up. Pls don't try that again - u r dealing with ppl who have vast experience in flame war origination..}

Baljeet · Post by **Baljeet** » 27 Nov 2008 06:56

{deleted non-post}

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 06:56

I would urge people not to be upset about foreign reporters, they are no better or no worse than our very own. The fault lies with the India's establishment for not having a clear sense of purpose and explaining things clearly. In such a scenario, Media tend to make up their own stories. Can't blame them (as much as I dislike their stories).

Bloomberg.com: Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Kill 80 People, Injure 240 (Update2)

As many as 80 people were killed and 240 injured in India’s financial hub of Mumbai as gunmen armed with rifles and grenades raided five-star hotels in the country’s first terrorist attack targeting foreigners.

As smoke billowed from the 565-room Taj hotel, emergency services evacuated guests via ladders. All of the 26 South Koreans at the Taj were rescued, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said in a statement.

Two terrorists were shot dead by police at the hotel and two more remain inside the building, according to PTI.

Police said two attackers at the Oberoi had escaped, and two suspected terrorists were subsequently killed when driving away from the hotel‘s vicinity, Times TV said.

The head of India’s anti-terrorism unit and at least 10 other officers were killed, according to PTI. Schools and colleges in Mumbai will be closed today, the news agency said.

The attacks may affect tourism, which climbed 10 percent in the first nine months of the year to 3.87 million visitors, generating $8.8 billion in revenue, according to government figures. Foreign direct investment into the country more than doubled between April and August to $14.6 billion.

The government has previously blamed terrorist attacks on organizations linked to foreign powers, without offering evidence or making arrests. Local media often blame the attacks on groups backed by Pakistan or Bangladesh, without identifying the security officials who provided the information.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 27 Nov 2008 06:57

3 confirmed killed. Remaining 2 to 3 terrorists scattered all over the Taj.

Navy officers in their whites are there, police, army all working together.

sunilUpa · Post by **sunilUpa** » 27 Nov 2008 06:58

Dmurphy wrote:WTF...the NSG has just arrived at Oberoi and yet to leave for Taj!

What on earth took them soooo long? Had it been Israel, his would have been long over and they would have been undertaking retaliatory attacks by F-16s.

May be waiting for manya homeminister to pick right pajama and come with them.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 06:59

Baljeet wrote:Here goes this dhaga courtsey of Mr. Murphy.

You're right Baljeet. Why track the current developments? Lets all come up with some choicest of Gaalis for the current establishment,, otherwise our purpose here, is defeated you see...

kasper · Post by **kasper** » 27 Nov 2008 06:59

Will the authorities try and use a hostage negotiator to end this, or, will they rely more on brute force, say with the military units that are on scene?

Any history on past events is appreciated.

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 27 Nov 2008 07:00

I am usually mad with anger at these things.... But this time.. I am not. I am feeling down ...almost a defeatist attitude.

Its not the Islamists that have done it... Nope. I feel defeated by desis from the left and the Indian govenment who would again not do anything of substance!

This would just be chalked up as just another incident and desis would move on.

A country and people that doesn;t feel anything worth fighting for deserve nothing!

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 27 Nov 2008 07:00

Manu wrote:I would urge people not to be upset about foreign reporters, they are no better or no worse than our very own. The fault lies with the India's establishment for not having a clear sense of purpose and explaining things clearly. In such a scenario, Media tend to make up their own stories. Can't blame them (as much as I dislike their stories).

Bloomberg.com: Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Kill 80 People, Injure 240 (Update2)
As many as 80 people were killed and 240 injured in India’s financial hub of Mumbai as gunmen armed with rifles and grenades raided five-star hotels in the country’s first terrorist attack targeting foreigners.

As smoke billowed from the 565-room Taj hotel, emergency services evacuated guests via ladders. All of the 26 South Koreans at the Taj were rescued, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said in a statement.

Two terrorists were shot dead by police at the hotel and two more remain inside the building, according to PTI.

Police said two attackers at the Oberoi had escaped, and two suspected terrorists were subsequently killed when driving away from the hotel‘s vicinity, Times TV said.

The head of India’s anti-terrorism unit and at least 10 other officers were killed, according to PTI. Schools and colleges in Mumbai will be closed today, the news agency said.

The attacks may affect tourism, which climbed 10 percent in the first nine months of the year to 3.87 million visitors, generating $8.8 billion in revenue, according to government figures. Foreign direct investment into the country more than doubled between April and August to $14.6 billion.

The government has previously blamed terrorist attacks on organizations linked to foreign powers, without offering evidence or making arrests. Local media often blame the attacks on groups backed by Pakistan or Bangladesh, without identifying the security officials who provided the information.

The West wants to take all credit...they r making it sound as if the main motive behind the attacks was to take them out....I can live with that...let them keep making all the noises on the same lines...I will be happy as long as no one associates this to some quack reason like internationalising Kashmir or the plight of <u know who> in the country etc etc

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 07:00

Times UK: Terrorists wanted to destroy symbol of Indian splendour

Jeremy Page
It felt like India’s 9/11. Even in a country whose experience of terrorism dates back to its independence in 1947, the sight of Bombay’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel in flames after last night’s attacks was something that no one could ever have imagined.
As thick black smoke billowed from its domed roof, and flames poured through its gothic arched windows, one Indian television anchor summed up the feelings of millions of watching Indians. “If America cannot forget the images of the World Trade Centre, this image of fire billowing out of this beautiful structure which represents Mumbai and its free spirit will not be forgotten here,” he said. .
Police suspect that they arrived by boat, mooring by the Gateway of India that was built in honour of King George V and Queen Mary in 1928.

They began their audacious assault at around 9.30pm by bursting into the hotel that was built in the Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles on the waterfront overlooking the Arabian Sea. They opened fire indiscriminately on the crowd of well-heeled Indians and foreigners milling around the ornate lobby, with its famous cantilever stairway, onyx columns and crystal chandeliers.

Firefighters tried to douse the flames but they were still raging by around 5am when there was a pause in the shooting.
These were the rooms that had entertained everyone from Maharajahs and foreign heads of state to rock stars and billionaire industrialists.

Hement Karkare, the squad’s head, was shot in the chest in the operation and soon succumbed to his wounds near the spot where Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, founded the Goa Liberation Group in the 1950s to demand the return of the Portuguese colony.
Now it stands, perhaps, as a monument to Indian terrorism — and the thousands of victims it has claimed since the country’s independence.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 27 Nov 2008 07:01

European parliament member fled Taj, whereabouts unknown

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 07:01

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 07:04

Financial Times, London: ‘They were just kids in jeans and T-shirts’

India’s financial capital was gripped by chaos and confusion into the early hours on Thursday as police and commandos fought running battles with terrorists in Mumbai’s main business hotels – including the Taj Mahal hotel, a famous landmark.
Among those caught in the firing was a Conservative MEP, Sajjad Karim, who was barricaded in a basement room after he fled machine-gun fire in the Taj Mahal. “I was in the lobby of the hotel when gunmen came in and people started running. There were about 25 or 30 of us,” he told the Press Association.

“Some of us split one way and some another. A gunman just stood there spraying bullets around, right next to me. I managed to turn away and I ran into the hotel kitchen and then we were shunted into a restaurant in the basement.”

Robert Wood, for the US 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.”

Police said that the terrorists used automatic weapons and grenades. One witness at the five-star Oberoi hotel, Ignacio Larrea, who was in the building with a Spanish local government delegation, was having dinner at about 10pm when he heard between 15 and 20 shots.

“I was eating when I heard the shots,” he said. “We were immediately told to leave our tables. We were moved into the kitchen with no lights and then we were moved down into the basement, where they kept us for about two hours. Then we were released from a back door.”

A guest from one of the hotels, interviewed by local television, described the terrorists as “kids” wearing casual clothes, jeans and T-shirts.

“They were young boys, maybe 20 to 25 years old. Indian. They were saying they wanted anyone with British or American passports,” the hotel guest said on TV, his face still covered in soot from fires inside the hotel.

Harshad · Post by **Harshad** » 27 Nov 2008 07:05

Singha wrote:I woke up and TV still doesnt seem to have a clue other than just talk talk talk.

Yes. After watching the online news I came to the same conclusion.
I still can not figure out if hostages are freed or still captive.
if assassinations of Mumbai Top cops was premiditated or just a coincidence.

Regretfully the media is lamenting in kilos the loss (extent which is not yet determined) of Taj building.

Fire brigade seems to be dousing the flames as they would in normal circumstances of fire.

More importantly, where are our elected politicans and those who occupy the post of official spokesperson? Shouldnt they be on TV?

Unfortunately we have never learnt our lessons in emergency management in spite of so many of such incidences having occured in the past.

After 1993 blasts, hotels started screening everyone comming in the 5 Star hotels. So why did they stop? May be some HR genious at the hotel thought it would be a good cost cutting method

One thing I am sure is that the Mumbai Police having known that they have been targets (esp top cops) will be more vigilant and aggressive to save at least their skins if not ours.

Baljeet · Post by **Baljeet** » 27 Nov 2008 07:09

Dmurphy wrote:
Baljeet wrote:Here goes this dhaga courtsey of Mr. Murphy.
You're right Baljeet. Why track the current developments? Lets all come up with some choicest of Gaalis for the current establishment,, otherwise our purpose here, is defeated you see...

Murphy
I am not sure if someone has been explicit in choicest of Gaalis. You do have to give people slack to express themselves. It is very possible some members loved one, padosi, dost, jaankar may be a victim of this attack. IMHO I think we have been attacked we have every right to retaliate, we have right to question our elected establishment. I can speak for some members--our current establishment do seem weak, incoherent, disorganised and in disarray.
As Jagan said, this thread is about keeping everyone informed and update the events, the anger will boil over. In nutshell what members are saying here and Aam Aadmi saying on street is they want some accountability from establishment. They are asking questions--nothing wrong with that?
Just my thoughts...

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 27 Nov 2008 07:12

Fire brigade seems to be dousing the flames as they would in normal circumstances of fire.

Harshad, I did not get the point here....hw else wud they be doing it? Are you saying that they are not watchful for hidden terrorists, if any, or that they are not doing it quick enough....?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Nov 2008 07:12

seems like the staff at the Taj did a very good job in saving these people via the basement and service door.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 27 Nov 2008 07:12

Edited - told ya , this is not a place for discourses

R_Kumar · Post by **R_Kumar** » 27 Nov 2008 07:14

just few days back,our PM said we can't afford bomb blast any more.
We demand his resignation along with his ramp walking Home minister.

kasper · Post by **kasper** » 27 Nov 2008 07:14

Harshad wrote:
Singha wrote:I woke up and TV still doesnt seem to have a clue other than just talk talk talk.
Yes. After watching the online news I came to the same conclusion.
I still can not figure out if hostages are freed or still captive.
if assassinations of Mumbai Top cops was premiditated or just a coincidence.

Regretfully the media is lamenting in kilos the loss (extent which is not yet determined) of Taj building.

Fire brigade seems to be dousing the flames as they would in normal circumstances of fire.

More importantly, where are our elected politicans and those who occupy the post of official spokesperson? Shouldnt they be on TV?

Unfortunately we have never learnt our lessons in emergency management in spite of so many of such incidences having occured in the past.

After 1993 blasts, hotels started screening everyone comming in the 5 Star hotels. So why did they stop? May be some HR genious at the hotel thought it would be a good cost cutting method

One thing I am sure is that the Mumbai Police having known that they have been targets (esp top cops) will be more vigilant and aggressive to save at least their skins if not ours.

Yes, I have been watching IBN for several hours now and have not seen a single public official being interviewed yet.

Here is the US, they are often on camera shortly after any major incident like this.

I can understand the frustration that people must be feeling.

And my prayers to all of the victims and their familes as well.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 07:14

Men in black standing with cops behind a fire engine. Heavy NSG presence. NSG has established a post inside the Taj. A hotel has to be among the worst places in which to have a hostage situation. Hundreds of rooms which could be booby trapped and each of which has to be cleared individually.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 27 Nov 2008 07:14

Deepak Chopra, on CNN, betraying India.

He states it is a global problem. He says it is opportunity for Obama. Reminds of Hindu fundamentalism in Gujarat.

Cybaru · Post by **Cybaru** » 27 Nov 2008 07:15

So terrorists that fired on the tourists in cafe leopold, moved to nariman house and seem to be holed up there.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 27 Nov 2008 07:15

NDTV reporting: 800 army personel in mumbai. Surrounding hotels and main hotspots. MARCO's and NSG are being tasked with the encounter. 2 MARCO's units are deployed and are already there. They are actually trained in Mumbai.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 27 Nov 2008 07:17

And.......we have the G word! As in "Gujarat" and "Genocide" being mentioned on the international media, for (as far as I know) the first time in the wake of this attack.

On CNN's Larry King Live, none other than Deepak Chopra brought up "Hindu Fundamentalists" responsible for the "massacre" of Muslims in Gujarat... and yes, he called it a "genocide". All in the context of explaining how righteously aggrieved India's Muslims are, and how India should now work with Pakistan because terrorism is no longer a "Muslim problem", etc. etc.

With Indians like Deepak Chopra who needs Zain Verjees, Christiane Amanpours or even Eric Margolises?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 27 Nov 2008 07:18

http://www.youtube.com/v/Qred2Qf4Lkg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7dAiWfl240

sunilUpa · Post by **sunilUpa** » 27 Nov 2008 07:18

vishal wrote:Men in black standing with cops behind a fire engine. Heavy NSG presence. NSG has established a post inside the Taj. A hotel has to be among the worst places in which to have a hostage situation. Hundreds of rooms which could be booby trapped and each of which has to be cleared individually.

NSG is yet to reach Taj,,they are Marcos and Army commandos

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 27 Nov 2008 07:19

NSG has started storming the taj.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 07:19

Times Now reporter started talking about sniper posts being established and their location and then checked herself in mid-sentence.

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 07:20

Telegraph, UK: Bombay attacks: Britons and Americans targeted

Witnesses said the terrorists, thought to be linked to al-Qaeda, were specifically targeting British and American visitors. An organisation calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed it was behind the attacks. Security officials claimed no knowledge of the group that takes its name from the Deccan plateau that stretches from Bombay to southern India.

A series of bombings in Indian cities in recent months have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists thought to be behind some of the attacks.

There were scenes of mayhem as staff used hotel linen and brass baggage carts to move the injured to hospital. Bullet holes pierced the elegant façades and blood smeared the furniture of the hotel lobbies. Gunmen also attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria station.
Thousands of panicked residents, many fleeing buildings and hotels where the firing was continuing were cowering wherever shelter was available. "There is total bedlam and nobody knows what is going on," Badru Nissa, a Bombay resident, said. "I am terrified by the gunshots."

Economist, UK: Terror in Mumbai

As of Wednesday night it was unclear who might be responsible for the attacks, although a group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed in an email sent to television channels that it was responsible. In September the group had emailed warnings to news agencies accusing the Mumbai police of harassing Muslims and threatening “we are closely keeping an eye on you and just waiting for the right time to execute your bloodshed”, according to a local newspaper the Deccan Herald in September. The message went on to “warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks Mumbaikars will face in future, their responsibility would lie with the Mumbai [police] and their guardians”.

India, a predominantly Hindu country, has not generally been seen as a dangerous destination for foreign visitors. Although the country has seen many thousand people fall victim to terrorists—including some 70 people who were killed in a strike in the north-east of the country earlier in November—it is unusual for Westerners to be attacked. Local insurgents, or militants loyal to extremists in Pakistan, are usually blamed for terrorist assaults. But it is unclear whether either such groups might be responsible for the latest strikes.

The SUN, UK: Put your hand up if you’re British or American

Frightened hostages were marched off — and their fate was unclear. Local reports said they could include up to 40 British and other foreigners.

The Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels were among at least SEVEN locations attacked simultaneously as maniacs with machine guns and bombs staged massacres that rocked the teeming Indian city.

At least 900 were wounded as the wild-eyed terrorists, thought to be Islamic fanatics, opened fire and lobbed grenades indiscriminately.

A rail station, restaurant and police HQ were also hit, along with a hospital where 58 perished.

The Foreign Office was frantically trying to find out if Britons were among the latest victims. At the Oberoi, Brit Alex Chamberlain — who works for the Indian Premier League cricket website — told how he managed to slip away as up to 40 guests were herded up 18 flights of stairs at gunpoint.

He said: “They told everybody to put their hands up if there were any British or Americans.

“My friend said to me, don’t be a hero, don’t say you are British.

“I am sure that is what this is all about. They were talking about British and Americans specifically.

“There was an Italian guy. They said, ‘Where are you from?’. He said he was from Italy and they said ‘fine’ and they left him alone. “I thought, ‘Fine, they’re going to shoot me if they ask me anything — and thank God they didn’t.”

Fellow Brit Rakesh Patel confirmed: “They wanted anyone with British or American passports.”

Later an explosion was reported after commandos were said to have stormed in.

At the Taj Mahal Palace, British Euro MP Sajjad Karim told how he fled as gunmen burst in.

Holed up in its basement with other survivors, the Tory’s voice shook with fear as he said via mobile phone: “A gunman just stood there spraying bullets around, right next to me.

“I managed to turn away and I ran into the hotel kitchen and then we were shunted into a restaurant in the basement. We are now in the dark in this room and we’ve barricaded all the doors. It’s really bad.”

He told of seeing “several people go down” as the gunmen opened up.

A guest at a wedding reception said: “Everyone — the bride, the groom, everyone — just ran.”

One hotel guest said a stairway was full of bodies.
Amid the mayhem, police and paramedics used anything they could lay their hands on to transport the injured.

Some were wheeled to safety on the hotel’s golden luggage carts.

Screaming
Later, fires burned in the top floors as police reportedly tried to overpower gunmen.

Screaming people were seen hanging out of windows of lower floors as firefighters tried to reach them with ladders and cherry-pickers.

The hotel was used by the England cricket team just two weeks ago — and they were due to stay there again for next month’s Second Test.

Last night there were fears the Test may be called off.

Plans by Middlesex County Cricket Club to fly out today for the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League were scrapped.

The bloodbaths began at 10.33pm local time. Gunmen in jeans and carrying rucksacks fired AK47s and threw grenades at the crowded CST railway terminus — killing ten.
At the police HQ, a frantic cop yelled down the phone: “We are under fire, there is shooting at the gate.” The chief of the anti-terror squad was among three top cops reported killed.

Three more people died when a taxi was blown up near the airport.

Another target was the city’s famous Cafe Leopold — a mecca for tourists.

It was left pitted with bullet holes — with pools of blood on the floor where diners had fled leaving behind their shoes.

Journalist Sourav Mishra was wounded in the shoulder as he ate there with friends. Last night he was having to share a hospital bed with THREE other injured patients. He said: “I heard gunshots — something hit me. I ran away and fell on the road.”

Hospital officials said a Japanese man had died there and nine Europeans had been admitted, three of them in critical condition with gunshots.

An Indian government spokesman said four suspects had been killed in two incidents when they tried to flee in cars.

He added another more died at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and nine more were arrested.

Mumbai has frequently been targeted by Islamic extremists, including a series of bombings in July 2007 that killed 187 people.

A group calling itself the “Deccan Mujahedeen” last night boasted its members had staged the attacks.

Police said: “The encounters are still going on and we are trying to overpower them.”

R_Kumar · Post by **R_Kumar** » 27 Nov 2008 07:21

Who is this Deepak Chopra? any google link?

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 27 Nov 2008 07:21

This is not good and completly out of hand now.

The politicians shouls get togather and come out with some sort of plan to deal with lawlessnes or we are slipping toward massive riots, unstability and bloodshed.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 27 Nov 2008 07:23

He has written dozens of books. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chopra

Manu · Post by **Manu** » 27 Nov 2008 07:23

Folks, I am only posting news without comments. Please try to tell us the facts (without compromising the security situation). There will be plenty of time for analysis. What is happening, right now, in Mumbai?

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 07:23

Time Now reporting cell phone jammers ibeing used.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 27 Nov 2008 07:25

Singha wrote:TV also says 90% of ATS were busy with the malegaon "investigation"

Politically motivated shenanigans have crippled our intelligence and security agencies.

They are underfunded to begin with, and then they are sent chasing red herrings. No wonder these 'intelligence lapses' happen so frequently.

With good basic police and detective work, there is no way such egregious attacks can happen. But political considerations trump everything else, and the people suffer.

kasper · Post by **kasper** » 27 Nov 2008 07:25

Katare wrote:
The politicians shouls get togather and come out with some sort of plan to deal with lawlessnes or we are slipping toward massive riots, unstability and bloodshed.

I agree.

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 27 Nov 2008 07:26

BSE and NSE will be closed today.

kasper · Post by **kasper** » 27 Nov 2008 07:28

Does Mumbai have any type of local authority who could be speaking, like a Mayor??

rgsrini · Post by **rgsrini** » 27 Nov 2008 07:28

Brihaspati,
The mass murder comment by admin was against Vavinash as he clearly suggested it. Regarding diferentiating muslim vs islamic terrorists, I cannot understand what you are trying to communicate even though you have typed in a lot of sentences.

You want Muslims to support/help the government to catch criminals amongst their midst. How and why would they do it if you brand the whole community as terrorists every time a bomb goes off somewhere?