2008 Mumbai attacks: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Series of Islamist terrorist attacks in India}}

[[Ajmal Kasab]],<ref name="Terrorist's name lost in transliteration">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120661211200.htm |title=Terrorist's name lost in transliteration |date=6 December 2008 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=[[Chennai]] |access-date=7 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208090328/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120661211200.htm |archive-date=8 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the sole surviving attacker, disclosed that the attackers were members of the terrorist group [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/17882/ |title=Profile: Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pure) (aka Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Lashkar e-Toiba; Lashkar-i-Taiba) |first=Jayshree |last=Bajoria |date=14 January 2010 |website=[[Council on Foreign Relations]] |access-date=31 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605151918/http://www.cfr.org/publication/17882/ |archive-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> among others.<ref name="NYT-2008-12-03">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/world/asia/03mumbai.html |title=US and India See Link to Militants in Pakistan |last1=Schmitt |first1=Eric |last2=Sengupta |first2=Somini |last3=Perlez |first3=Jane |date=3 December 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=3 December 2008 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626121047/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/world/asia/03mumbai.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] stated that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their [[Agent handling|controllers]] were in Pakistan.<ref name="NPR-2008-12-03">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/world/asia/04india.html |title=Ex-US Official Cites Pakistani Training for India Attackers |last1=Schmitt |first1=Eric |last2=Sengupta |first2=Somini |date=3 December 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=14 February 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402032918/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/world/asia/04india.html |archive-date=2 April 2009}}</ref> Pakistan later confirmed that the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a Pakistani citizen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-01-08|title=Mumbai siege: 'Kill all the hostages – except the two Muslims'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/mumbai-siege-kill-all-the-hostages-ndash-except-the-two-muslims-1232074.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126064047/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/mumbai-siege-kill-all-the-hostages-ndash-except-the-two-muslims-1232074.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TIME08JAN2009">{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1870267,00.html |title=Pakistan Continues to Resist India Pressure on Mumbai |first=Omar |last=Waraich |date=8 January 2009 |magazine=[[TIME]] |access-date=8 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114080611/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1870267%2C00.html |archive-date=14 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 9 April 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, [[Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi]], was released on bail and disappeared;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32250763 | title=Mumbai attack suspect Lakhvi released on bail in Pakistan | work=BBC News | date=10 April 2015 | access-date=10 April 2015 | archive-date=12 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412183524/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32250763 | url-status=live }}</ref> he was arrested again in [[Lahore]] on 2 January 2021.<ref>{{cite web | first=Asim | last=Tanveer | url=https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-2008-mumbai-attacks-counterterrorism-mumbai-india-aa6214946a60375bcd0bd7a60ae193db | title=Pakistan arrests key militant on terror financing charges | website=Associated Press | date=2 January 2021 | access-date=2 January 2021 | archive-date=4 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104113819/https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-2008-mumbai-attacks-counterterrorism-mumbai-india-aa6214946a60375bcd0bd7a60ae193db | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bukhari |first=Mubasher |date=2021-01-02 |title=Pakistan arrests alleged militant group leader Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi on terrorism financing charge |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pakistan-arrest-mumbai-idUSKBN2970C0 |access-date=2021-01-04 |website=[[Reuters]] |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105095106/https://www.reuters.com/article/pakistan-arrest-mumbai-idUSKBN2970C0 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, former Pakistani prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] suggested that the Pakistani government played a role in the 2008 Mumbai attack.<ref name="Farmer2019">{{cite news |last1=Farmer |first1=Ben |title=Pakistan trained al-Qaeda, says Imran Khan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/24/pakistan-trained-al-qaeda-says-imran-khan/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=24 September 2019 |date=24 September 2019 |quote=Pakistan's security apparatus has in the past angrily rejected politicians linking it to militancy. Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, faced treason charges last year after an interview where he suggested the Pakistani state played a role in the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. |archive-date=24 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924190928/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/24/pakistan-trained-al-qaeda-says-imran-khan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first events were detailed around 20:00 [[Indian Standard Time]] (IST) on 26 November, when 10 men in inflatable speedboats came ashore at two locations in [[Colaba]]. They reportedly told local [[Marathi language|Marathi]]-speaking fishermen who asked them who they were to "mind their own business" before they split up and headed two different ways. The fishermen's subsequent report to the police department received little response and local police failed to act.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/171056 |title=India-Pakistan Tensions Grow in Wake of Attacks |first1=Ron|last1=Moreau|last2=Mazumdar |first2=Sudip |date=27 November 2008 |newspaper=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206064557/http://www.newsweek.com/id/171056|archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref>

Two hotels, [[The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel]] and the [[Trident Hotel, Nariman Point|Oberoi Trident]], were among the four locations targeted. Six explosions were reported at the [[The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel|Taj Hotel]] – one in the lobby, two in the elevators, three in the restaurant – and one at the Oberoi Trident.<ref name="IBN-Taj">{{Cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/taj-hotel-burns-2-terrorists-killed/79137-3.html |title=Taj Hotel Burns, 2 Terrorists Killed |date=27 November 2008|website=[[CNN-IBN]] |access-date=27 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824211653/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/taj-hotel-burns-2-terrorists-killed/79137-3.html |archive-date=24 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="TTKN News">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ttkn.com/world/terror-attacks-army-stormed-taj-hotel-mumbai-217.html |title=Taj Hotel Attacked |date=27 November 2008 |website=TTKN News |access-date=27 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113213148/http://www.ttkn.com/world/terror-attacks-army-stormed-taj-hotel-mumbai-217.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> At the Taj, firefighters rescued 200 hostages from windows using ladders during the first night.

During the attacks, both hotels were surrounded by [[Rapid Action Force]] personnel and [[MARCOS (India)|Marine Commandos]] (MARCOS) and [[National Security Guards]] (NSG) commandos.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://voanews.com/english/archive/2008-11/2008-11-27-voa9.cfm |title=Commandos Launch Operations to Clear Luxury Hotels Seized by Gunmen in Mumbai |first=Anjana |last=Pasricha |date=27 November 2008 |website=Voice of America |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090317163829/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-11/2008-11-27-voa9.cfm |archive-date=17 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="toi_army_storms">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Army_storms_Mumbais_besieged_five-star_hotels_/articleshow/3762100.cms |title=We want all Mujahideen released: Terrorist inside Oberoi |date=27 November 2008 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=27 November 2008 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715025042/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Army_storms_Mumbais_besieged_five-star_hotels_/articleshow/3762100.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> When reports emerged that attackers were receiving television broadcasts, feeds to the hotels were blocked.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2008/tv/asia/indian-journalists-in-media-firestorm-1117996604/ |title=Indian journalists in media firestorm|first=Patrick |last=Frater |date=30 November 2008 |website=Variety |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202024047/http://www.variety.com/VR1117996604.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Security forces stormed both hotels, and all nine attackers were killed by the morning of 29 November.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/28/india.attacks/index.html |title=Mumbai operation appears nearly over|date=29 November 2008 |website=CNN |access-date=23 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308091722/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/28/india.attacks/index.html |archive-date=8 March 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn-oberoi-end">{{Cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/28/india.attacks/ |title=Oberoi standoff ends |date=28 November 2008 |website=CNN |access-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201083956/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/28/india.attacks/ |url-status=live |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref> Major [[Sandeep Unnikrishnan]] of the NSG was fatally shot during the rescue of Commando Sunil Yadav, who was hit in the leg by a bullet during the rescue operations at Taj.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/30mumterror-terrorists-had-no-plans-to-blow-up-taj.htm |title=Terrorists had no plan to blow up Taj: NSG DG |date=30 November 2008 |website=[[Rediff]] |access-date=26 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622030627/http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/30mumterror-terrorists-had-no-plans-to-blow-up-taj.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/nsg-commando-recounts-gunfight-with-terrorists/79466-3.html |title=NSG commando recounts gunfight with terrorists |website=[[CNN-IBN]] |access-date=26 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204081135/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/nsg-commando-recounts-gunfight-with-terrorists/79466-3.html |archive-date=4 December 2008}}</ref> 32 hostages were killed at the Oberoi Trident.<ref>{{Cite news|url=hhttps://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-taste-of-defiance-as-massacre-hotel-opens-for-high-tea-jxgnng7xxhb|title=A taste of defiance as massacre hotel opens for high tea |first=Rhys |last=Blakely |date=22 December 2008|newspaper=The Times|location=London|access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>

In April 2011, the United States issued arrest warrants for four Pakistani men as suspects in the attack. The men, Sajid Mir, Abu Qahafa, Mazhar Iqbal alias "Major Iqbal", are believed to be members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and helped plan and train the attackers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Four more men charged in Mumbai attack |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=27 April 2011 |newspaper=[[Japan Times]] |page=4}}</ref>

David Headley was a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and between 2002 and 2009 Headley travelled extensively as part of his work for LeT. Headley received training in small arms and countersurveillance from LeT, built a network of connections for the group, and was chief scout in scoping out targets for Mumbai attack<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/world/asia/17headley.html |title=US Had Warnings on Plotter of Mumbai Attack |last1=Perlez |first1=Jane |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |last3=Thompson |first3=Ginger |date=16 October 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415020016/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/world/asia/17headley.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/mumbai-plot-fbi-was-warned-years-in-advance |title=FBI Was Warned Years in Advance of Mumbai Attacker's Terror Ties |last=Rotella |first=Sebastian |date=15 October 2010 |website=[[ProPublica]] |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922002007/https://www.propublica.org/article/mumbai-plot-fbi-was-warned-years-in-advance |url-status=live }}</ref> having allegedly been given $25,000 in cash in 2006 by an ISI officer known as [[Major Iqbal]], The officer also helped him arrange a communications system for the attack, and oversaw a model of the Taj Hotel so that gunmen could know their way inside the target, according to Headley's testimony to Indian authorities. Headley also helped ISI recruit Indian agents to monitor Indian troop levels and movements, according to a US official. At the same time, Headley was also an informant for the US [[Drug Enforcement Administration]], and Headley's wives warned American officials of Headley's involvement with LeT and his plotting attacks, warning specifically that the Taj Hotel may be their target.<ref name="nytimes1"/>

On 12 February 2009 Pakistan's Interior Minister [[Rehman Malik]] said that Pakistani national Javed Iqbal, who acquired [[VoIP]] phones in Spain for the Mumbai attackers, and Hamad Ameen Sadiq, who had facilitated money transfer for the attack, had been arrested.<ref name="nd"/> Two other men known as Khan and Riaz, but whose full names were not given, were also arrested.<ref name="Haider"/> Two Pakistanis were arrested in [[Brescia]], Italy (east of [[Milan]]) on 21 November 2009, after being accused of providing logistical support to the attacks and transferring more than US$200 to Internet accounts using a false ID.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article52322.ece |title=Italy arrests two for Mumbai attacks |date=21 November 2009 |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Chennai |access-date=21 November 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20091121-two-pakistanis-arrested-brescia-connection-with-mumbai-attacks-italy-india |title=Two Pakistanis arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks |date=21 November 2009 |website=France 24 |access-date=14 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214075728/http://www.france24.com/en/20091121-two-pakistanis-arrested-brescia-connection-with-mumbai-attacks-italy-india |archive-date=14 February 2011 }}</ref> They had [[Red corner notice|Red Corner Notices]] issued against them by [[Interpol]] for their suspected involvement and it was issued after the last year's strikes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesnow.tv/Pak-mum-on-2611-terror-duo-held-in-Italy/articleshow/4332698.cms |title=Pak mum on 26/11 terror duo held in Italy |date=22 November 2009 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105013259/http://www.timesnow.tv/Pak-mum-on-2611-terror-duo-held-in-Italy/articleshow/4332698.cms |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The Indian Express group hosts an annual memorial event, 26/11 - Stories of Strength, in Mumbai to pay homage to those killed in the ghastly terror attacks in the city in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/26-11/ |title=26/11 Stories of Strength |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223235416/https://indianexpress.com/26-11/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/photos/26-11-stories-of-strength-a-memorial-to-mark-11th-anniversary-of-mumbai-attacks/ss-BBXlHJO |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=24 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724141655/https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/photos/26-11-stories-of-strength-a-memorial-to-mark-11th-anniversary-of-mumbai-attacks/ss-BBXlHJO |url-status=live }}</ref> The memorial event started in 2016, is now organised at the Gateway of India and brings forth the inspiring stories of courage and strength of more than 100 survivors that the Indian Express has interviewed over the past decade. Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been the brand ambassador for the event over the years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.adgully.com/26-11-stories-of-strength-89636.html |title=26/11 Stories of Strength |access-date=9 March 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128182141/https://www.adgully.com/26-11-stories-of-strength-89636.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, [[Elias Davidsson]] published ''The Betrayal of India: Revisting the 26/11 Evidence'', claiming  powerful institutions in India and the US had been the beneficiaries and the attacks had been organized by Indian prime Intelligence Agency, RAW and her surrogates.<ref>{{cite web | access-date=14 January 2021 | first1=Adeela | last1=Naureen | url=https://nation.com.pk/07-Feb-2018/india-betrayed | title=India betrayed | website=nation.com.pk | date=6 February 2018 | archive-date=10 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110112358/https://nation.com.pk/07-Feb-2018/india-betrayed | url-status=live }}</ref>