The November 2008 Mumbai attacks are a series of ten coordinated terrorist attacks that occurred across Mumbai (Bombay), India's financial capital and largest city, on November 26, 2008.[5] At least 125 people including at least six foreign nationals have been confirmed dead, and at least 327 have been injured.[1] All except one of the attacks took place in South Mumbai; at the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station; at two five-star hotels: the Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point, and Taj Mahal Palace & Tower near the Gateway of India; at the Leopold Café, a popular tourist restaurant in Colaba; at the Cama Hospital; at the Orthodox Jewish-owned Mumbai Chabad House; and at the Mumbai Police Headquarters where at least three high-level officers, including chief of the Anti Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra, were killed by gunfire. The tenth incident involved a taxi blast at Vile Parle near the airport but it is uncertain whether this is connected with the South Mumbai attacks.[6] Between fifty and sixty terrorists have been involved in the attacks.[7]
After days of gunfire and explosions, things have quieted down as of the early morning of 28 November in Mumbai.[8][9] The fires are out and soldiers have been leading hostages and holed-up guests to safety and removing bodies of those killed in the attacks.[8] Both hotels occupied by terrorists the past night have been cleared according to the Army, and the terrorists have been flushed out.[9] Indian commandos have stormed the Jewish center where the terrorists had held at least ten hostages.[8]
A previously unknown organization identifying itself as the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility by email sent to news organizations.[3] Due to the apparent targeting of Britons, Americans, and Jews, the number of militants involved, the type of equipment they used, and the pattern of co-ordinated attacks, several reporters and media analysts speculate that non-Indian Islamic terrorists may have been responsible.[10][11][12][13][14] On 28 November, Reuters reported that an Indian newspaper has claimed that some of the terrorists are members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamist group.[15] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the attacks probably had “external linkages,” believing that the attack could not have occurred without help.[10] The Indian Mujahideen terrorist group threatened in September 2008 to carry out bombings on sites in Mumbai.[16][17] According to some news reports, a terrorist holding hostages at the Oberoi told an Indian TV channel that they wanted all 'Mujahideen' in Indian prisons released before they released their hostages. He also indicated that there were seven terrorists holding hostages at that location.[18][19] Other reports indicate that this demand was made through a hostage at the Mumbai Chabad House, in a call to the Israeli consulate in New Delhi.[20]
Locations of some of the attacks
9.20 p.m.[1] (IST, UTC +5:30)
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