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Worst-ever terror attack on Mumbai

By Agencies | Tibet Sun

Indian firefighters attempt to put out a blaze at the historic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai as smoke billows from the top stories, on Thursday, 27 November 2008.AFP/India

The latest terrorist attack that took place late on Wednesday night in Mumbai, India, is the worst since the 1993 serial blasts which left the country shell-shocked.

A series of coordinated attacks starting Thursday, 26 November, by Islamic militants in Mumbai resulted in a death toll which rose to 155 on Friday. The dead included at least four Australians, a Japanese, an Italian, a Briton and a German, police and state officials said. Nearly 300 people were admitted to various government hospitals in South Mumbai, 15 reportedly in critical condition.

Mumbai has witnessed four major terrorist attacks in the last one-and-a-half decades. The worst incident was witnessed on 12 March 1993, when a series of bomb blasts killed 257 and left about 700 wounded. The second worst terror strike was on 11 July 2006, with over 200 people killed in seven blasts on suburban trains and stations.

The 26 November 2008 blasts were the third worst strike, taking place on Thursday night at seven places.

The fourth terror incident was on 25 August 2003, when 46 people were killed in two blasts, including one near the Gateway of India.

Indian special forces are continuing “mopping up” operations at the luxury Taj Mahal and Oberoi/Trident hotels, which were attacked by terrorists armed with grenades and machine guns on Wednesday.

At least 17 commandos were seen abseiling from a helicopter into a Jewish centre in Mumbai on Friday, as part of efforts to end a hostage crisis and flush out Islamic militants behind an audacious assault on the city.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the militants were from a group based overseas, while the military official leading the operation, Major General R.K. Hooda, was swift to point a finger at arch-rival Pakistan.

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