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26/11 Attacks Bombay 2008
The 2008 Mumbai attacks[10] (also referred to as 26/11)[11][a] were a series of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, an extremist Islamist terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.[12][13][14] The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until Saturday 29 November 2008. At least 174 people died, including 9 attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.[2][15]
2008 Mumbai attacks
Bombaymapconfimed attacks.png
Locations of the 2008 Mumbai attacks
Location
Mumbai, India
Leopold Café
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Oberoi Trident
Cama Hospital
Nariman House
Coordinates
18.922125°N 72.832564°E
Date
26 November 2008 – 29 November 2008
21:30 (26/11) – 08:00 (29/11) (IST, UTC+05:30)
Attack type
Bombings, shootings, hostage crisis,[1] siege
Weapons
AK-47, RDX, IEDs, grenades
Deaths
Approximately 166, in addition to 9 attackers[2]
Injured
300+[2]
Victims
See casualty list for complete list
Perpetrators
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi[3][4] and Lashkar-e-Taiba[5][6][7]
No. of participants
10
Defenders
National Security Guards[8][9]
MARCOS
Mumbai Police
Indian ATS
Mumbai Fire Brigade
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House,[16] The Oberoi Trident,[17] The Taj Palace & Tower,[17] Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital,[17] The Nariman House,[18] the Metro Cinema,[19] and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.[17] There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.[20] By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces. On 29 November, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.[21]
Pakistan condemned the attacks.[22][23] Ajmal Kasab,[24] the sole surviving attacker, disclosed that the attackers were members of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba,[25] among others.[26] The Government of India stated that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their controllers were in Pakistan.[27] Pakistan later confirmed that the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a Pakistani citizen.[28] On 9 April 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was released on bail and disappeared. In 2018, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that the Pakistani government played a role in the 2008 Mumbai attack.[29There had been many terrorist attacks in Mumbai since the 13 coordinated bomb explosions that killed 257 people and injured 700 on 12 March 1993.[30] The 1993 attacks were carried out in revenge for earlier religious riots that killed many Muslims.[31]
On 6 December 2002, a blast in a BEST bus near Ghatkopar station killed two people and injured 28.[32] The bombing occurred on the 10th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.[33] A bicycle bomb exploded near the Vile Parle station in Mumbai, killing one person and injuring 25 on 27 January 2003, a day before the visit of the Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the city.[34] On 13 March 2003, a day after the 10th anniversary of the 1993 Bombay bombings, a bomb exploded in a train compartment near the Mulund station, killing 10 people and injuring 70.[35] On 28 July 2003, a blast in a BEST bus in Ghatkopar killed 4 people and injured 32.[36] On 25 August 2003, two bombs exploded in South Mumbai, one near the Gateway of India and the other at Zaveri Bazaar in Kalbadevi. At least 44 people were killed and 150 injured.[37] On 11 July 2006, seven bombs exploded within 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai,[38] killing 209 people, including 22 foreigners[39][40][41] and more than 700 injured.[42][43] According to the Mumbai Police, the bombings were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).[44][45]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-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 were helpless.[51]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Edit
Bullet marks on the wall at the CSMT
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) was attacked by two gunmen, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab.[52] Kasab was later caught alive by the police and identified by eyewitnesses. The attacks began around 21:30 when the two men entered the passenger hall and opened fire[53] using AK-47 rifles.[54] The attackers killed 58 people and injured 104 others,[54] their assault ending at about 22:45.[53] Security forces and emergency services arrived shortly afterwards. Announcements by a railway announcer, Vishnu Dattaram Zende, alerted passengers to leave the station and saved scores of lives.[55][56] The two gunmen fled the scene and fired at pedestrians and police officers in the streets, killing eight police officers. The attackers passed a police station. Knowing that they were outgunned against the heavily armed terrorists, the police officers at the station, instead of confronting the terrorists, decided to switch off the lights and secure the gates.
The attackers then headed towards Cama Hospital with intent to kill patients,[57] but the hospital staff locked all of the patient wards. A team of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad led by police chief Hemant Karkare searched the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and then left in pursuit of Kasab and Khan. Kasab and Khan opened fire on the vehicle in a lane next to the hospital, and received return fire in response. Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte and one of their officers were killed. The only survivor, Constable Arun Jadhav, was severely wounded.[58] Kasab and Khan seized the police vehicle but later abandoned it and seized a passenger car instead. They then ran into a police roadblock, which had been set up after Jadhav radioed for help.[59] A gun battle then ensued in which Khan was killed and Kasab was wounded. After a physical struggle, Kasab was arrested.[60] A police officer, Tukaram Omble, was also killed when he tried to disarm Kasab by wrestling his weapon away from him.
Bullet marks left at Leopold Cafe
Leopold Cafe Edit
The Leopold Cafe, a popular restaurant and bar on Colaba Causeway in South Mumbai, was one of the first sites to be attacked.[61] Two attackers, Shoaib alias Soheb and Nazir alias Abu Umer,[52] opened fire on the cafe on the evening of 26 November between 9.30 and 9.48 pm, killing 10 people (including some foreigners) and injuring many more.[62]
Bomb blasts in taxis Edit
There were two explosions in taxis caused by timer bombs. The first one occurred at 22:40 at Vile Parle, killing the driver and a passenger. The second explosion took place at Wadi Bunder between 22:20 and 22:25. Three people, including the driver of the taxi were killed, and about 15 others were injured.[20][63]
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident Edit
The damaged Oberoi Trident hotel
Two hotels, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Oberoi Trident, were among the four locations targeted. Six explosions were reported at the Taj Hotel – one in the lobby, two in the elevators, three in the restaurant – and one at the Oberoi Trident.[64][65] At the Taj, firefighters rescued 200 hostages from windows using ladders during the first night.
CNN initially reported on the morning of 27 November 2008 that the hostage situation at the Taj Hotel had been resolved and quoted the police chief of Maharashtra stating that all hostages were freed;[40] however, it was learned later that day that there were still two attackers holding hostages, including foreigners, in the Taj Hotel.[66]
The first floor of the Taj Hotel was completely gutted
A number of European Parliament Committee on International Trade delegates were staying in the Taj Hotel when it was attacked,[67] but none of them were injured.[68] British Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sajjad Karim (who was in the lobby when attackers initially opened fire there) and German Social Democrat MEP Erika Mann were hiding in different parts of the building.[67] Also reported present was Spanish MEP Ignasi Guardans, who was barricaded in a hotel room.[69][70] Another British Conservative MEP, Syed Kamall, reported that he along with several other MEPs left the hotel and went to a nearby restaurant shortly before the attack.[67] Kamall also reported that Polish MEP Jan Masiel was thought to have been sleeping in his hotel room when the attacks started, but eventually left the hotel safely.[71] Kamall and Guardans reported that a Hungarian MEP's assistant was shot.[67][72] Also caught up in the shooting were the President of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, while checking in at the Oberoi Trident,[72] and Indian MP N. N. Krishnadas of Kerala and Gulam Noon while having dinner at a restaurant in the Taj Hotel.[73][74]
Nariman House Edit
Front view of the Nariman House a week after the attacks
Nariman House, a Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre in Colaba known as the Mumbai Chabad House, was taken over by two attackers and several residents were held hostage.[75] Police evacuated adjacent buildings and exchanged fire with the attackers, wounding one. Local residents were told to stay inside. The attackers threw a grenade into a nearby lane, causing no casualties. NSG commandos arrived from Delhi, and a naval helicopter took an aerial survey. During the first day, 9 hostages were rescued from the first floor. The following day, the house was stormed by NSG commandos fast-roping from helicopters onto the roof, covered by snipers positioned in nearby buildings. After a long battle, one NSG commando, Sergeant Gajender Singh Bisht, and both perpetrators were killed.[76][77] Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka Holtzberg, who was six months pregnant, were murdered with four other hostages inside the house by the attackers.[78]
According to radio transmissions picked up by Indian intelligence, the attackers "would be told by their handlers in Pakistan that the lives of Jews were worth 50 times those of non-Jews". Injuries on some of the bodies indicated that they may have been tortured.[79][80]
NSG Commandos beginning the assault on Nariman House by fast-roping onto the terrace.
NSG raid Edit
During the attacks, both hotels were surrounded by Rapid Action Force personnel and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and National Security Guards (NSG) commandos.[81][82] When reports emerged that attackers were receiving television broadcasts, feeds to the hotels were blocked.[83] Security forces stormed both hotels, and all nine attackers were killed by the morning of 29 November.[84][85] Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the NSG was killed during the rescue of Commando Sunil Yadav, who was hit in the leg by a bullet during the rescue operations at Taj.[86][87] 32 hostages were killed at the Oberoi Trident.[88]
NSG commandos then took on the Nariman house, and a Naval helicopter took an aerial survey. During the first day, 9 hostages were rescued from the first floor. The following day, the house was stormed by NSG commandos fast-roping from helicopters onto the roof, covered by snipers positioned in nearby buildings. NSG Commando Sergeant Gajender Singh Bisht, who was part of the team that fast-roped onto Nariman House, died after a long battle in which both perpetrators were also killed.[76][77] By the morning of 28 November, the NSG had secured the Jewish outreach centre at Nariman House as well as the Oberoi Trident hotel. They also incorrectly believed that the Taj Palace and Towers had been cleared of attackers, and soldiers were leading hostages and holed-up guests to safety, and removing bodies of those killed in the attacks.[89][90][91] However, later news reports indicated that there were still two or three attackers in the Taj, with explosions heard and gunfire exchanged.[91] Fires were also reported at the ground floor of the Taj with plumes of smoke arising from the first floor.[91] The final operation at the Taj Palace hotel was completed by the NSG commandos at 08:00 on 29 November, killing three attackers and resulting in the conclusion of the attacks.[92] The NSG rescued 250 people from the Oberoi, 300 from the Taj and 60 people (members of 12 different families) from Nariman House.[93] In addition, police seized a boat filled with arms and explosives anchored at Mazgaon dock off Mumbai harbour.[94]
© All Rights Reserved
2008 Mumbai attacks
Bombaymapconfimed attacks.png
Locations of the 2008 Mumbai attacks
Location
Mumbai, India
Leopold Café
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Oberoi Trident
Cama Hospital
Nariman House
Coordinates
18.922125°N 72.832564°E
Date
26 November 2008 – 29 November 2008
21:30 (26/11) – 08:00 (29/11) (IST, UTC+05:30)
Attack type
Bombings, shootings, hostage crisis,[1] siege
Weapons
AK-47, RDX, IEDs, grenades
Deaths
Approximately 166, in addition to 9 attackers[2]
Injured
300+[2]
Victims
See casualty list for complete list
Perpetrators
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi[3][4] and Lashkar-e-Taiba[5][6][7]
No. of participants
10
Defenders
National Security Guards[8][9]
MARCOS
Mumbai Police
Indian ATS
Mumbai Fire Brigade
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House,[16] The Oberoi Trident,[17] The Taj Palace & Tower,[17] Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital,[17] The Nariman House,[18] the Metro Cinema,[19] and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.[17] There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.[20] By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces. On 29 November, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.[21]
Pakistan condemned the attacks.[22][23] Ajmal Kasab,[24] the sole surviving attacker, disclosed that the attackers were members of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba,[25] among others.[26] The Government of India stated that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their controllers were in Pakistan.[27] Pakistan later confirmed that the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a Pakistani citizen.[28] On 9 April 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was released on bail and disappeared. In 2018, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that the Pakistani government played a role in the 2008 Mumbai attack.[29There had been many terrorist attacks in Mumbai since the 13 coordinated bomb explosions that killed 257 people and injured 700 on 12 March 1993.[30] The 1993 attacks were carried out in revenge for earlier religious riots that killed many Muslims.[31]
On 6 December 2002, a blast in a BEST bus near Ghatkopar station killed two people and injured 28.[32] The bombing occurred on the 10th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.[33] A bicycle bomb exploded near the Vile Parle station in Mumbai, killing one person and injuring 25 on 27 January 2003, a day before the visit of the Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the city.[34] On 13 March 2003, a day after the 10th anniversary of the 1993 Bombay bombings, a bomb exploded in a train compartment near the Mulund station, killing 10 people and injuring 70.[35] On 28 July 2003, a blast in a BEST bus in Ghatkopar killed 4 people and injured 32.[36] On 25 August 2003, two bombs exploded in South Mumbai, one near the Gateway of India and the other at Zaveri Bazaar in Kalbadevi. At least 44 people were killed and 150 injured.[37] On 11 July 2006, seven bombs exploded within 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai,[38] killing 209 people, including 22 foreigners[39][40][41] and more than 700 injured.[42][43] According to the Mumbai Police, the bombings were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).[44][45]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-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 were helpless.[51]
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Edit
Bullet marks on the wall at the CSMT
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) was attacked by two gunmen, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab.[52] Kasab was later caught alive by the police and identified by eyewitnesses. The attacks began around 21:30 when the two men entered the passenger hall and opened fire[53] using AK-47 rifles.[54] The attackers killed 58 people and injured 104 others,[54] their assault ending at about 22:45.[53] Security forces and emergency services arrived shortly afterwards. Announcements by a railway announcer, Vishnu Dattaram Zende, alerted passengers to leave the station and saved scores of lives.[55][56] The two gunmen fled the scene and fired at pedestrians and police officers in the streets, killing eight police officers. The attackers passed a police station. Knowing that they were outgunned against the heavily armed terrorists, the police officers at the station, instead of confronting the terrorists, decided to switch off the lights and secure the gates.
The attackers then headed towards Cama Hospital with intent to kill patients,[57] but the hospital staff locked all of the patient wards. A team of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad led by police chief Hemant Karkare searched the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and then left in pursuit of Kasab and Khan. Kasab and Khan opened fire on the vehicle in a lane next to the hospital, and received return fire in response. Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte and one of their officers were killed. The only survivor, Constable Arun Jadhav, was severely wounded.[58] Kasab and Khan seized the police vehicle but later abandoned it and seized a passenger car instead. They then ran into a police roadblock, which had been set up after Jadhav radioed for help.[59] A gun battle then ensued in which Khan was killed and Kasab was wounded. After a physical struggle, Kasab was arrested.[60] A police officer, Tukaram Omble, was also killed when he tried to disarm Kasab by wrestling his weapon away from him.
Bullet marks left at Leopold Cafe
Leopold Cafe Edit
The Leopold Cafe, a popular restaurant and bar on Colaba Causeway in South Mumbai, was one of the first sites to be attacked.[61] Two attackers, Shoaib alias Soheb and Nazir alias Abu Umer,[52] opened fire on the cafe on the evening of 26 November between 9.30 and 9.48 pm, killing 10 people (including some foreigners) and injuring many more.[62]
Bomb blasts in taxis Edit
There were two explosions in taxis caused by timer bombs. The first one occurred at 22:40 at Vile Parle, killing the driver and a passenger. The second explosion took place at Wadi Bunder between 22:20 and 22:25. Three people, including the driver of the taxi were killed, and about 15 others were injured.[20][63]
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident Edit
The damaged Oberoi Trident hotel
Two hotels, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Oberoi Trident, were among the four locations targeted. Six explosions were reported at the Taj Hotel – one in the lobby, two in the elevators, three in the restaurant – and one at the Oberoi Trident.[64][65] At the Taj, firefighters rescued 200 hostages from windows using ladders during the first night.
CNN initially reported on the morning of 27 November 2008 that the hostage situation at the Taj Hotel had been resolved and quoted the police chief of Maharashtra stating that all hostages were freed;[40] however, it was learned later that day that there were still two attackers holding hostages, including foreigners, in the Taj Hotel.[66]
The first floor of the Taj Hotel was completely gutted
A number of European Parliament Committee on International Trade delegates were staying in the Taj Hotel when it was attacked,[67] but none of them were injured.[68] British Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sajjad Karim (who was in the lobby when attackers initially opened fire there) and German Social Democrat MEP Erika Mann were hiding in different parts of the building.[67] Also reported present was Spanish MEP Ignasi Guardans, who was barricaded in a hotel room.[69][70] Another British Conservative MEP, Syed Kamall, reported that he along with several other MEPs left the hotel and went to a nearby restaurant shortly before the attack.[67] Kamall also reported that Polish MEP Jan Masiel was thought to have been sleeping in his hotel room when the attacks started, but eventually left the hotel safely.[71] Kamall and Guardans reported that a Hungarian MEP's assistant was shot.[67][72] Also caught up in the shooting were the President of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, while checking in at the Oberoi Trident,[72] and Indian MP N. N. Krishnadas of Kerala and Gulam Noon while having dinner at a restaurant in the Taj Hotel.[73][74]
Nariman House Edit
Front view of the Nariman House a week after the attacks
Nariman House, a Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre in Colaba known as the Mumbai Chabad House, was taken over by two attackers and several residents were held hostage.[75] Police evacuated adjacent buildings and exchanged fire with the attackers, wounding one. Local residents were told to stay inside. The attackers threw a grenade into a nearby lane, causing no casualties. NSG commandos arrived from Delhi, and a naval helicopter took an aerial survey. During the first day, 9 hostages were rescued from the first floor. The following day, the house was stormed by NSG commandos fast-roping from helicopters onto the roof, covered by snipers positioned in nearby buildings. After a long battle, one NSG commando, Sergeant Gajender Singh Bisht, and both perpetrators were killed.[76][77] Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka Holtzberg, who was six months pregnant, were murdered with four other hostages inside the house by the attackers.[78]
According to radio transmissions picked up by Indian intelligence, the attackers "would be told by their handlers in Pakistan that the lives of Jews were worth 50 times those of non-Jews". Injuries on some of the bodies indicated that they may have been tortured.[79][80]
NSG Commandos beginning the assault on Nariman House by fast-roping onto the terrace.
NSG raid Edit
During the attacks, both hotels were surrounded by Rapid Action Force personnel and Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and National Security Guards (NSG) commandos.[81][82] When reports emerged that attackers were receiving television broadcasts, feeds to the hotels were blocked.[83] Security forces stormed both hotels, and all nine attackers were killed by the morning of 29 November.[84][85] Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of the NSG was killed during the rescue of Commando Sunil Yadav, who was hit in the leg by a bullet during the rescue operations at Taj.[86][87] 32 hostages were killed at the Oberoi Trident.[88]
NSG commandos then took on the Nariman house, and a Naval helicopter took an aerial survey. During the first day, 9 hostages were rescued from the first floor. The following day, the house was stormed by NSG commandos fast-roping from helicopters onto the roof, covered by snipers positioned in nearby buildings. NSG Commando Sergeant Gajender Singh Bisht, who was part of the team that fast-roped onto Nariman House, died after a long battle in which both perpetrators were also killed.[76][77] By the morning of 28 November, the NSG had secured the Jewish outreach centre at Nariman House as well as the Oberoi Trident hotel. They also incorrectly believed that the Taj Palace and Towers had been cleared of attackers, and soldiers were leading hostages and holed-up guests to safety, and removing bodies of those killed in the attacks.[89][90][91] However, later news reports indicated that there were still two or three attackers in the Taj, with explosions heard and gunfire exchanged.[91] Fires were also reported at the ground floor of the Taj with plumes of smoke arising from the first floor.[91] The final operation at the Taj Palace hotel was completed by the NSG commandos at 08:00 on 29 November, killing three attackers and resulting in the conclusion of the attacks.[92] The NSG rescued 250 people from the Oberoi, 300 from the Taj and 60 people (members of 12 different families) from Nariman House.[93] In addition, police seized a boat filled with arms and explosives anchored at Mazgaon dock off Mumbai harbour.[94]
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