News Today

I hope everyone had a good holiday, I know mine was very filling. I awoke however to some sobering news about the hostage-crisis that I know you’ve all heard about in India.

The attacks, which started on Wednesday, some estimates say have claimed over 150 deaths and at least 350 people injured. The attacks were strategically placed at 10 sites in India’s financial capitol. When Indian Commandos finally ended a day long siege at the Mumbai headquarters of an ultra-orthodox Jewish group they were greeted by the bodies of five hostages inside. Among the victims reported was a New York rabbi and his wife. Four Americans have been killed so far in the attacks.

There is still a lot of speculation as to who the terrorists actually were. It is not believed to be among the high ranks of Al-Qaida, although that possibility has not been ruled out either, given the similarity of this attack to previous Al-Qaida attacks.

The attackers reportedly came in by boat to the Colaba bay. Authorities are investigating a fishing boat that was found with a dead body aboard found off the city’s coast as well.

Some in India have already pointed the finger at Pakistan.

“Preliminary evidence, prima facie evidence, indicates elements with links to Pakistan are involved,” the Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference earlier.

One claim is that at least one of the terrorists involved in Wednesday’s attacks was a Briton of Pakistani origin. No such death has been confirmed by Indian officials though.

“They are from across the border and perhaps from Faridkot, Pakistan. They tried to pretend that they were from Hyderabad,” Major General R.K. Hooda said earlier to reporters. Hooda was in charge of taking the city buildings back.

Pakistan has denied these claims, insisting that the two countries are fighting a common enemy.

The group that claimed responsibility, Deccan Mujahideen, was unknown to global security officials, who say the attacks were a complete surprise.

“We have been actively monitoring plots in Britain and abroad and there was nothing to indicate something like this was about to happen,” a British security official told The Associated Press speaking anonymously.

Whoever the gunmen were, they certainly were well prepared. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition and grenades were found among the bags brought by the terrorists. Among the ten structures attacked by the terrorists was the Taj, where at least thirty people were being held hostage. The terrorists reportedly had extensive knowledge of the hotel structure and had strong military training as well. One survivor said the gunmen “anyone with a British or US passport” and tried to take him to the roof before he escaped.

“It’s obvious they were trained somewhere… Not everyone can handle the AK series of weapons or throw grenades like that,” an anonymous senior officer of India’s Marine Commando unit told reporters today.

I read a great blog post today that I would encourage you to check out to see a Muslim-Indian’s perspective on the attacks.

Also, just a note… I’ve got a very uneasy feeling about Russia’s attitude lately. More on that later.

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