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Mumbai rocked
by deadly attacks
Gunmen have carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 80 people and injuring 200
more.
At least seven high-profile locations were hit in India's financial capital, including two luxury hotels where hostages were reported to be held.
A fire is sweeping through the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai's most famous hotel, which is now ringed by troops.
Police said four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested.
Flames and black smoke billow from the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Mumbai
The situation is still confused but the city's main train station, a hospital, a restaurant and two hotels - locations used by foreigners as well as
local businessmen and leaders - are among those places caught up in the violence.
There are reports of gunfire and explosions taking place elsewhere in the city, and reports of a hostage situation at a hospital.
Commandos have now surrounded the two hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident, where it is believed that the armed men are holding dozens
of hostages.
One eyewitness said that the attackers had singled out British and American passport holders.
If this report is true, our security correspondent Frank Gardner says it implies an Islamist motive - attacks
inspired or co-ordinated by
al-Qaeda.
A claim of responsibility has been made by a
previously unknown group calling itself the
Deccan Mujahideen.
Our correspondent says it could be a hoax or assumed name for another group.
The motive is far from clear - but the
attacks come amid elections in several Indian states, including in disputed Kashmir.
In the latest developments:
• Fire crews have been evacuating people from the upper floors of the Taj Mahal Palace, from where flames and smoke could be seen billowing
•
The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit and two other senior officers are among those killed, officials say
• The White House holds a meeting of top intelligence and counter-terrorism officials, and pledges to help the Indian government.
Gunmen opened fire at about 2300 local time (1730 GMT) at the sites in southern Mumbai.
Mumbai journalist:
"Gunmen were looking for Westerners"
"The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed," said AN Roy, police commissioner of Maharashtra state.
Local TV images showed blood-splattered streets, bodies being taken into ambulances and dramatic shots of what appeared to explosions and fire inside
the Taj Mahal hotel.
One eyewitness told the BBC he had seen a gunman opening fire in the Taj Mahal's lobby.
He said he had seen people fall before he fled the lobby.
"All I saw was one man on foot carrying a machine gun type of weapon - which I then saw him firing from and I saw people hitting the floor, people
right next to me," he said.
International reaction
There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead.
Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists.
Mumbai itself has also been attacked in the past: in July 2006 a series of bomb attacks on busy commuter trains killed almost 190 people and injured
more than 700.
Police accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of planning those attacks, which they said were carried out by an Islamist militant group,
Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying there was no evidence that its intelligence staff were involved.
But the latest shootings come at a time when ties between India and Pakistan have improved.
Just days ago Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told a summit in Delhi that Pakistan would not be first to carry out a missile strike on India.
The two countries have a joint anti-terror mechanism whereby they are supposed to share information on terrorist attacks. [/QUOTE]
news.bbc.co.uk...
As soon as you hear "Al Qaeda", then you know that the attack is another operation. Consider the fact that westerners were targeted in this attack.
When the story hits the news, what is more likely to effect the hearts of the public? Indian casualties or American/British casualties? This is a
multinational, GlobIntel attack.. Just like 9-11, 7-7, Bhutto, etc.
What is the purpose? This quote from the article gives it away: "Police accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of planning those attacks". This is
reinforced by the fact that the 1993 attack they keep mentioning was carried out by an organized crime syndicate that was led by an
ISI asset. The ISI has been made the prime suspect in this crime. They were, without a doubt,
involved, but the agenda here is to make it look as if Pakistan-backed terrorists are behind the attacks. This will serve as a pretext for US
incursions into Pakistan.
We know that the agenda is to create pretexts for US incursions into Pakistan. How? The Marriott Hotel Blast. The blast was a failed GlobIntel
operation designed to wipe out a large number of civilian/military officials. The following quote from Bloomberg lets us know why the Marriott Hotel
Blast happened:
[QUOTE]The attack, which killed at least 53 and injured 266 near the capital's main government buildings,
came hours after
President Asif Ali Zardari pledged to resist recent incursions into Pakistani territory by U.S. forces in Afghanistan who are battling
Pakistan-based Taliban and al-Qaeda guerrillas. [/QUOTE]
www.bloomberg.com...
This was the same reason that Bhutto was set up. She was a Harvard-educated member of the elite. She was 100% controlled opposition. Her controllers
set her up, though, by having her return to Pakistan, where she was taken out by a professional sniper. This psychological operation achieved the
desired effect.. destabilization. That's the game that is being played.
Well, up until now.
The Bhutto Assassination and the Marriott Hotel Bombing were meant to destabilize Pakistan, so US/NATO forces will have a reason to go into it. This
latest attack appears to be an effort to create the impression that now terrorism is not just inside Pakistan, but that it is slipping outside and is
a danger to everyone else. Now, of course, the knights in shining armor must ride into Pakistan to fight the terrorism. They'll be done putting it
down in, say, maybe 10 years.. or maybe 50. Make it 100. How'a'bout 'Never'?
With the Marriott Hotel Bombing, Bhutto Assassination, and India Attack, we are seeing "Northwoods 2008: Target Pakistan" playing out in front of
our eyes. Of course, one of the agencies assisting in this game-plan is none other than Pakistan's own ISI. Welcome to the real world, Joebob. No,
you can't stay asleep for five more minutes.
[edit on 11/28/2008 by semperfortis]