Mumbai Terror Attacks

November 26-29, 2008
On November 26th, 2008, a team of ten heavily armed and professionally trained men arrived in Mumbai, India from Karachi, Pakistan. The group traveled about 500 nautical miles on board the MV Alpha cargo ship before hijacking a fishing trawler to avoid detection by the Indian Coast Guard. Using inflatable rafts, the men reached the Gateway of India and Badhwar Park at approximately 9:00pm local time. The men split into four teams and departed to predetermined targets strategically located throughout the country’s financial capital. The attacks began at about 9:25pm and continued for sixty hours.

Initially hit and run tactics were used, with the men indiscriminately firing AK-47 rifles and grenades at large groups gathered at Café Leopold, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Cama and Albless Hospitals, Metro Cinema, and the Colaba police station. These types of attacks continued until 12:15am on Thursday, when the groups began seizing key defensive positions within the Oberoi-Trident Hotel, Chabad House, and the Taj Hotel. After a lengthy operation, Indian authorities engaged the fortified positions and the final standoff ended at the Taj on Saturday morning. As many as 195 people were killed and over 325 were injured in ten separate attacks.

 

Selected Updates

NC4 Incident Monitoring Center issued the following alerts:

• Two terrorists have barricaded themselves in the Oberoi Hotel; 3 dead and 25 injured. 11/26/08 10:31 PST
  
  
• Terror strikes at 12 places in Mumbai. Up to 20 hostages held at Oberoi Hotel.
  11/26/08 11:57 PST
  

• Several British and American civilians among hostages at two hotels. Explosion reported at Taj Hotel.  11/26/08 13:59 PST
  

• Explosions and fire reported at Oberoi Hotel; clashes continue in multiple locations across Mumbai.  11/27/08 07:23 PST
  
  
• Indian elite commando chief is reporting that the Oberoi-Trident Hotel has been cleared of terrorist threat.  11/28/08 01:03 PST
  
  
• Counter-terrorism operations declared over; at least 195 killed in attacks. An investigation is underway.  11/29/08 16:06 PST
  

 

Additional Resources
NC4 provides ongoing updates to members as the incident unfolds through the National Incident Monitoring Center (NIMC). NIMC analysts follow the incident using national media and official government sources such as the U.S. State Department website - linking to the updated Travel Alert for India - including official government information, emergency contact numbers for foreign nationals, and situational updates.

One-page printable summary with graphics