Heinous act that shook India’s soul! Recounting those 60 hours of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack

Shaking the very base of India’s soul, the Mumbai terror attack still remains afresh as nearly 166 people were killed on November 26, 2008. During the ghastly attacks that lasted for four days, Mumbai witnessed a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in several parts. 26/11, as these attacks are often referred to, finally culminated on the morning of 29th November 2008.

 

 

As we still recall the heinous act of the terrorist, lets recount the 60 horrifying hours that gives goose bumps when remembered. On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists reached Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan's port city Karachi. They hijacked fishing dingy and killed four of the five men crew, leaving one occupant to ferry them to Mumbai coast.

 

 

 

After sailing to the city under the cover of darkness, a group of terrorists carried out the first attack at the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSTM) railway station.

 

 

Terrorists Ajmal Amir Kasab and Ismail Khan killed as many as 58 people and injuring over 100 at CSTM railway station. The duo then entered to attack Cama Hospital, but the same was thwarted with the alertness of the hospital staff. While leaving the hospital, they came across teams of police personnel and opened fire at them. They killed 6 police officials, including city's Anti-Terrorism Squad Hemant Karkare in the encounter.

 

 

The second attack took place at Nariman House business and residential complex where a Rabbi, his wife, and six others, including five Israeli citizens, were killed by the terrorists who first held them as hostage. The two-year-old child of the Rabbi couple, Moshe, survived in the attack. Then 'Baby Moshe' became a face of the innocent victims of ruthless terrorism. On 26/11, the third site of the attack was Leopold Cafe where four terrorists killed 10 persons.

 

 

The fame cafe on Colaba Causeway was left with bloodstains on the floor. The four terrorists then entered the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where they killed as many as 31 people after laying a three-day siege at the hotel. At the same time, two terrorists also attacked the Oberoi-Trident hotel. The siege officially ended on the evening of November 28 with as many as 30 being killed in the horrific attack.

 

This picture of a National Security Guard (NSG) commando rappelling from a helicopter near Nariman House where suspected militants were hiding, caught a nation's fancy like no other.

 

 

The heinous attack was carried out by LeT founder & United Nations designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed lives in Pakistan under protection provided by government of Pakistan.