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*{{RUS}} - President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] said "We are concerned about the loss of life and consider that acts of terrorism of this type are harmful to the whole international order and are a challenge to humanity."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7751507.stm Mumbai shootings: Reaction in quotes]</ref> |
*{{RUS}} - President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] said "We are concerned about the loss of life and consider that acts of terrorism of this type are harmful to the whole international order and are a challenge to humanity."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7751507.stm Mumbai shootings: Reaction in quotes]</ref> |
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*{{ZAF}} - "The South African government extends its condolences to the government and people of India following a spate of attacks on a number of hotels, hospital and a restaurant in Mumbai on Wednesday, 26 November, which left a number of people dead and wounded while others have been taken hostage."<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=World leaders condemn Mumbai attacks|curly=y |work=The Star |page= |date=27 November 2008 |accessdate=27 November 2008|quote= |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/27/mumbai.world.reaction/?iref=mpstoryview}}</ref> |
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*{{SIN}} - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore said that the country strongly condemns the attacks and conveyed its deepest condolences to the victims, their families, the government of India and its people. It said the Mumbai attacks underscored the common terrorist threat that we continue to face today, and Singapore stands firmly behind the Indian government in its fight against terrorism. <ref>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/392664/1/.html Singaporean among hostages held in Mumbai.] Retrieved on November 26, 2008.</ref> |
*{{SIN}} - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore said that the country strongly condemns the attacks and conveyed its deepest condolences to the victims, their families, the government of India and its people. It said the Mumbai attacks underscored the common terrorist threat that we continue to face today, and Singapore stands firmly behind the Indian government in its fight against terrorism. <ref>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/392664/1/.html Singaporean among hostages held in Mumbai.] Retrieved on November 26, 2008.</ref> |
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This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (November 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
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| The Mumbai attacks of November 26th, 2008 | |
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Locations of some of the attacks
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| Location | Mumbai, India |
| Date | 26 November 2008 10:30pm[1] (IST, UTC+5:30) |
Attack type | Bombings, shootings, hostages[2] |
| Weapons | AK-47 and grenades[3] |
| Deaths | 101[4] |
| Injured | 314+[3] |
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Terrorist attacks in India (since 2001) | |
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List of terrorist incidents in India | |
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Ten simultaneous terrorist attacks on 26 November 2008 occurred across Mumbai (Bombay), known as India's financial capital and largest city.[6] At least 101 people, including at least six foreign nationals, have been confirmed dead, and at least 314 have been injured.[3] 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 TridentatNariman 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; and at the police headquarters where at least three high-level officers, including chief of the Anti Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra, were killed by gunfire.
Due to the apparent targeting of British and American citizens, and the pattern of co-ordinated attacks, Islamic terrorists are thought to have been responsible. A previously unknown organization identifying itself as the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility by email sent to news organizations.[3] Some media reports have attributed these terrorist attacks to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group.[7][8] 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.[9][10]
According to news reports, Indian intelligence agencies believe that attackers came by sea to Mumbai from the Pakistani port of Karachi in the ship MV Alpha. [11] [12]
| Location | Type of attack |
|---|---|
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station |
Shootings, grenades. |
| South Mumbai police headquarters | Shootings[13] |
 Leopold Café, Colaba |
Shootings. |
 Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel |
Shootings,[14] six explosions, fire on top floor, hostages,[6] RDX found nearby.[15] |
 Oberoi Trident hotel |
Shootings, explosions, hostages, fire. |
| Mazagaon docks | Explosion, boat with armaments seized. |
| Cama Hospital | Shootings, hostages.[16] |
| Nariman House (Mumbai Chabad House) | Siege, shootings,[17] hostages. Owned by and home of the Chabad Lubavitch chabad house.[18] |
| Vile Parle suburb, North Mumbai | Car bomb blast.[19] |
| Girgaum Chowpatty | 2 terrorists were apprehended.[20] |
| Tardeo | 2 terrorists were arrested. |
India has suffered a wave of bomb attacks in recent years. The November 26 terrorist attacks appear to be the deadliest globally so far this year. Mumbai, being the financial capital of India, has been the target of many of these attacks. The most recent Mumbai attacks started shortly before 10 p.m.[6], when two persons with automatic AK-47 rifles and hand grenades were seen holing up inside the CST station in Mumbai. There were incidents of firing in Colaba where a policeman was reported to be injured. Police seized a boat filled with arms and explosives anchored at Mazgaon dock off Mumbai harbor.[1]
The attacks began around 9.50pm on November 26, when gunfire was heard inside the Leopold Cafe. Next, armed with AK-47 rifles, two terrorists entered the passenger hall of the CST railway terminal at about 10:30 p.m. and opened fire and threw grenades, killing at least ten people.[3][21] Two terrorists held fifteen hostages, including seven foreigners, in the Taj Mahal hotel.[22] CNN is reporting that the hostage situation at the Taj has been resolved and quoted the police chief of Maharashtra state as saying that all hostages have been released.[6] Forty people are being held as hostages in the Oberoi Trident hotel.[23] Six blasts are reported to have taken place at the Taj hotel and one at the Oberoi Trident.[24][25] The Taj Mahal Hotel was reported to be completely under government control at 4:22 a.m.[6] Both hotels are on fire and have been surrounded and stormed by Rapid Action Forces commandos.[4][26] Reports emerged of terrorists using live feeds broadcast by television stations; feeds to the hotels have subsequently been blocked. [citation needed] All terrorists are out of the Taj hotel, and police and firefighters are working to rescue the estimated 50 people trapped inside. Low-intensity blasts were reported in Vile Parle and a grenade attack in Santa Cruz. Two blasts were reported in the Nepean Sea Road area of south Mumbai. A petrol pump was blown up.[4] Local trains Mumbai Suburban Railway on the Western Railway are operational, whereas Central Railway are suspended. More blasts were reported at the Oberoi as the siege continued.[23]
About 65 Army commandos and 200 National Security Guards (NSG) commandos and MARCOS commandos were sent to Mumbai.[3] The army was reported to have stormed both the hotels to try and flush out the hostage takers.[27][26]
A number of European Parliament Committee on International Trade delegates were staying in the Taj Mahal hotel when it was attacked.[28] British Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim (who was in the lobby when gunmen initially opened fire there) and German Social Democrat MEP, Erika Mann were last heard of hiding in different parts of the building.[29] Also reported present was Spanish MEP Ignasi Guardans, who was barricaded in a hotel room.[30] Another British Conservative MEP, Syed Kamall, reports that he along with several other MEPs left the hotel and went to a nearby restaurant shortly before the attack.[29] Kamill also reported that Polish MEP, Jan Masiel, was thought to have been sleeping in his hotel room when the attacks occurred and has not been heard from since.[29] Kamil and Guardans report that a Hungarian MEP's assistant has been shot.[29][31]
Also caught up in the shooting were the President of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, while checking-in at the Oberoi Trident,[31] and Indian MP, N. N. Krishnadas of Kerala, while having dinner at a restaurant in the Taj hotel.[32]
The New York Times is reporting that terrorists are holding several hostages at Nariman House in Colaba, owned by Chabad Lubavitch.[33] Chabad Lubavitch also expressed concern that its representative in Mumbai, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, and his wife, Rivka Holtzberg, were missing.[18] According to the Times of India, the Indian Jewish Federation reported that a rabbi and his family had been taken hostage at the Chabad house.[34] Haaretz Daily has since reported that Rivka Holtzberg and their two-year-old child were released unharmed.
A previously unknown organization identifying itself as the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility by email sent to news organizations.[3] In September, the Indian Mujahideen warned of the attacks.[5] According to a witness, the gunmen were looking for American and British passport holders and left alone others, such as a man claiming to be Italian.[35] Some media reports have attributed these terrorist attacks to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group.[7][8]
Maharashtra state home secretary, Bipin Shrimali, has announced that the police have killed four gunmen when they attempted to flee in cars in two separate incidents, and state home minister, R. R. Patil, says nine suspects have also been arrested.[36]
As a result of this incident, all schools, colleges and most offices, including the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange will remain closed on 27th November 2008.[37] Shooting of Bollywood films and TV serials have also been halted in the city.[38]
The terrorists are said to have come by boat via sea routes from Karachi in Pakistan.[39] This led the Indian Navy and coast guard to begin searching ships off of India's western coast.[40] The Gujarat Police have said the terror strikes were similar to the Akshardham Temple attacks of 2002.[41]
| Nationality | Deaths |
|---|---|
 Australian |
1 |
 British |
1 |
 Canadian |
1 |
 German |
1 |
 Indian |
95 |
 Italian |
1 |
 Japanese |
1 |
At least 101 people[42] have been killed in the attacks and 314+ wounded.[43] Among the dead are 81 Indian civilians, 14 policemen and six foreigners, including one Japanese, one Australian, one Briton, one Canadian, one Italian, and one German.[44] [45][46][47][6][48][49] In addition, nine terrorists were killed and another nine were arrested. According to British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, seven Britons have been injured in the terror strikes and one dead.[50] Eleven other foreigners of different nationalities were injured in the terror strikes and were admitted to the Bombay hospital. Hospital sources said the injured foreigners are from Australia, USA, Norway, Spain, Canada and Singapore.[49]
According to Maharashtra chief minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, fourteen policemen have been killed in total, including the following high profile officers:[47][51]
Three railway officials of CST have also been killed in the terror strikes.[52]
The Government of Maharashtra announced Rs.5lakh compensation to the kin of those killed in the terror attacks and Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured.[53]
The Mumbai attacks highlighted the increasing importance of social media and citizen journalism in the way events are reported.[54] Many people are covering the unfolding event on websites like Twitter and Flickr, which are largely clustered under search tags such as "#mumbai" and "#attack". Twitter, in fact, has emerged as one of the most important sources[dubious – discuss] of news updates about the terrorist attacks,[55] with information unfolding even before mainstream media outlets could provide coverage.[56] Many Indian bloggers have live-blogged the attacks. A map of the attacks was set up using Google Maps.[55] Authorities have requested that all media outlets be very cautious and that they not show footage of the very sensitive NSG operations taking place, which are being monitored by terrorists, IBNLive says.[citation needed] The online encyclopedia Wikipedia was also noted for its more detailed reports and more rapid updates compared with much of the traditional media.[57]
- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's spokesperson's statement: "The secretary general condemns the rash of shootings and blasts in Mumbai today, which killed and wounded a large number of people. Such violence is totally unacceptable. The secretary general reiterates his conviction that no cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate attacks against civilians. He calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice swiftly. The secretary general sends his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and the wounded and expresses his solidarity with the people and government of India."[58]
European Union and 
France - Nicolas Sarkozy, in his role of both president of France and chairman of the European Union, strongly condemned the attacks.[59] Australia - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that Australia unreservedly condemned these atrocious attacks.[60] Canada - Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon stated "Canada strongly condemns the savage terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which have left hundreds of innocent civilians injured or killed...these cowardly attacks are truly appalling." People in east-end Toronto's Little India neighbourhood expressed shock and disgust at the news.[61]
China - China strongly condemns the attacks in Mumbai. Qin Gang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a press briefing that, the Chinese people offered their deepest condolences to those who died.[60] Japan - Prime Minister Taro Aso said the attacks were utterly unforgivable, vicious and heinous.[60] India - In a televised address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India will “go after” individuals and organizations behind the terrorist attacks, which were “well-planned with external linkages.”[62] Italy - President Giorgio Napolitano follows events with concern, attention and apprehension for the Italian people involved in.[63] Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini condemned the attacks and defined them as "atrocius" and "unjustifiable".[64]
Israel - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said: "I condemn the terror attack that is still ongoing in Mumbai it is another painful testimony that terrorism is the main challenge that Israel and the International community are dealing with." [65]
Malaysia - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying "The Government of Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms, the horrific terrorist attacks on a number of major public places at the heart of Mumbai. It is our hope that the perpetrators of these heinous and despicable crimes would be expeditiously brought to justice."[66]
Pakistan - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attacks, saying "Our grieves [sic] are with the families and friends of those killed and injured. Pakistan and India will continue their joint struggles to counter the actions of terrorists.".[67]
Philippines - The Philippine government, through Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, condemned the attacks in Mumbai. In a press statement, he said: “We condemn these terroristic attacks against mankind and we will be united with the entire Indian nation and the rest of the world in its quest to end terrorism the soonest possible time." [68] No Filipino nationals had been attacked in Mumbai, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.[69]
Russia - President Dmitry Medvedev said "We are concerned about the loss of life and consider that acts of terrorism of this type are harmful to the whole international order and are a challenge to humanity."[70]
South Africa - "The South African government extends its condolences to the government and people of India following a spate of attacks on a number of hotels, hospital and a restaurant in Mumbai on Wednesday, 26 November, which left a number of people dead and wounded while others have been taken hostage."[71]
Singapore - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore said that the country strongly condemns the attacks and conveyed its deepest condolences to the victims, their families, the government of India and its people. It said the Mumbai attacks underscored the common terrorist threat that we continue to face today, and Singapore stands firmly behind the Indian government in its fight against terrorism. [72] United Kingdom - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the attacks, saying that "today's attacks in Mumbai which have claimed many innocent victims, remind us, yet again, of the threat we face from violent extremists. I condemn these attacks unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured. The UK and India will continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists." Foreign Secretary David Milliband also condemned the attacks.
United States - The U.S. State Department immediately condemned the attacks, stating that there so far have been no reports of American casualties.[73] Spokesman Robert Wood said: "We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Mumbai, India. Our sympathies go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured, and to the people of Mumbai. We are monitoring the situation very closely and stand ready to support the Indian authorities as they deal with this horrific series of attacks."[74] White House spokesman Tony Fratto also condemned the attacks.[75]The English cricket team has postponed their One Day International tour of India following the news of the terrorist attacks.[76] The England team had stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel as early as a week before the attacks. A planned two-test series between England and India has not yet been cancelled, although discussions are ongoing between the England and Wales Cricket Board and Indian Cricket officials. The second of the two tests is due to be played in Mumbai, starting on 19 December.
The violence also disrupted the inaugral Twenty20 Champions League: Cricket Australia banned its players from going to India, and Middlesex, an English county team, delayed their journey, they were due to stay in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
Shane Warne, Captain of Rajasthan Royals, another team scheduled to play in the Twenty20 Champions League poured doubt on his team's participation saying, "I don't think we will be going (to India) now - why would you? It is just not worth the risk. No amount of money is worth the risk with what is going on over there at the moment."[77]
Many international airlines temporarily discontinued operations to Mumbai in the interest of passenger and crew safety.[78]
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