2011 Mumbai bombings
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Mumbai bombings (often referred to as 13 July or 13/7) were a series of three coordinated bomb explosions at different locations in Mumbai
, India, on 13 July 2011 between 18:54 and 19:06 IST. The blasts occurred at the Opera House
, Zaveri Bazaar
, and Dadar
West localities.
The first device was planted on a motorcycle at Khau Gali in south Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar
and exploded at 18:54 local time. The second device, planted in a tiffin box at the Opera House
near Charni Road
, exploded at 18:55. The third device was placed on an electric pole at a Kabutar Khana bus stand in Dadar
area and exploded at 19:06.
Following the blasts, phone lines were jammed and communications ceased or were available intermittently for at least a few hours. Other metropolitan cities like Delhi
, Chennai
, Hyderabad and Bangalore
were also put on high alert. Immediately after the blasts, the Mumbai Police
sent an SMS to a few mobile phone users in Mumbai reading "Bomb blasts reported at Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar. Please be careful. Stay indoors. Watch news channels". Most of the injured were rushed to various hospitals in Mumbai, such as J.J. Hospital, St. George's Hospital, Harikishandas Hospital and G.T. Hospital.
Mumbai has been hit by terrorist incidents at least half a dozen times since the early 1990s, with over 600 people dying in these attacks. In an editorial, the Times of India described the city as having become a "hot hunting ground for terror."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and Indian National Congress
leader Sonia Gandhi
visited Mumbai the next day and met with those injured in blasts at Saifee Hospital
. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
announced a compensation of 2,00,000 to the kin of each of those killed and 1,00,000 to the seriously injured. Meanwhile, the Maharashta Government
also announced 5,00,000 in compensation to the families of each of those killed and about 50,000 to the injured.
. According to the Special cell of the Delhi Police, Indian Mujahideen has been conducting blasts on the 13 or 26 of the month. Speculation was also rife that the Mumbai underworld could be behind these blasts, in the light of the killing of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey
, as well as the killing of Dawood Ibrahim
's brother. 13 July is also observed as Kashmir Martyr's day, and there could be a possibility that the attacks were carried out by Kashmiri groups. There is also a view that the attacks could have been plotted by those trying to derail the Indo-Pakistani peace process
.
The slain MiD DAY crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey had previously reported that a huge cache of 35 detonator
s, gelatin sticks and large quantity of ammonium nitrate explosives had been seized on 20 May 2011 from Umarkui and Sayli village in Silvassa
. Ammonium nitrate, gelatin and detonators have been used in several bomb blasts in Mumbai previously. The report also mentioned that this cache had gone missing soon after local police took custody. The journalist had also speculated that the cache might be used to trigger terror attacks in the city. There were calls for further investigations into this link to the Mumbai blasts by his employer MiD DAY.
classified the bomb blasts as a terrorist act and dispatched a National Investigation Agency
(NIA) team to the bomb site. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan
said that the bombs used could have been fuel filled, much like molotov cocktail
s. Preliminary investigations suggested the use of multiple IED
explosives in the blasts with ammonium nitrate-based explosives mixed with fuel oil. The explosives indicate some level of sophistication. It is also believed that remote detonators may have been used, with two of the three blasts being high-intensity. The Home Minister also announced that his office would be updating the people through the media every two hours.
The Maharashtra ATS was reported to have sought a list of passengers travelling from Kolkata to Mumbai and Kolkata to Kanpur from the Kolkata
police. The suspicions were a result of a Kolkata man with Indian Mujahideen
link having gone missing in the previous few days. A NIA
team visited Ahmedabad on 15 July to meet an Indian Mujahideen suspect who was arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with the Ahemdabad blast in 2008. On 16 July, Maharashtra ATS Chief Rakesh Maria
said that, based on forensic opinion and visit to the various sites, the possibility of a suicide bomber was being ruled out. However, a sketch of a possible suspect based on CCTV footage from one of the blast sites was being prepared. He added that in light of the sensitive nature of the investigation, the entire detail of the probe could not be revealed at that particular stage.
On 4 August, Home Minister PC Chidambaram suggested indications of involvement of a home-grown terror module in the blasts.
On 9 August, the Maharashtra ATS arrested one person it claimed had stolen a bike used in the Zaveri Bazaar
explosion. The bike had been stolen from one Amit Singh a few hours before the blasts. CCTV footage showed one person with long hair riding a stolen red colour Honda Activa, entering the crowded lane, taking two left turns, placing the scooter at the spot of the explosion and walking off.
detained several men for questioning. One of those detained—Faiz Usmani—died while in police custody on 17 July, sparking allegations of police brutality. Usmani was the brother of one of the accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings case. It was alleged by his family members that Faiz Usmani was healthy when the police picked him up and that he was subjected to torture
in police custody. The police dismissed these charges and countered that Usmani was suffering from hypertension
and complained of giddiness after walking himself into a police station. He was admitted to the Lokmanya Tilak hospital
, Sion, Mumbai, following which he died quickly due to blood clots in brain and a heart attack. A CID probe has been ordered into Usmani's death.
announced that the Boeing-787 Dreamliner, which was on its maiden visit to India, would skip the Mumbai leg of the trip. An official said that it would have been insensitive to take the plane to Mumbai at this time when such a tragedy had occurred and that the decision had also been taken in view of security concerns and so as not to put added pressure to provide extra cover for the aircraft.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan
revealed a plan by the Maharashtra government for a future use of satellite phones
and the development of a secure communication network
so that the administrative functioning is not affected during such crises as a result of network problems. He also reiterated the need to expedite the procurement of police modernisation equipment and the installation of CCTV
cameras at prominent places in the city.
and Vice President Hamid Ansari expressed their shock and condemned the attacks in Mumbai. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
also condemned the bombing, and called on Mumbai citizens to remain calm and show unity. Other politicians, such as Sonia Gandhi
, chairperson of the Indian National Congress
and Nitin Gadkari
of the BJP
expressed their anger and offered condolences to the families of the bombing victims. Senior BJP leader L K Advani visited Mumbai on 14 July and stated that the repeated attacks in Mumbai prove policy failure on part of the government. The Left parties strongly condemned the Mumbai serial blasts and rued the government’s inability to track down the perpetrators of recent terror strikes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that this was an attack on the heart of India. Home Minister
P. Chidambaram
left Delhi for Mumbai on the same night and visited the three blast sites, met the injured in the hospitals, and interacted with the family members of the dead.
Local politician, Manohar Joshi
of the Shiv Sena
, urged the government to "take immediate steps and find out who are people behind the blasts."
INC general secretary Rahul Gandhi
remarked that it was impossible to stop all the terror attacks. He said that 99 per cent of the terror attacks had been prevented in the country thanks to various measures, such as improved intelligence collection efforts. He added that "We work towards defeating it, but it is very difficult to stop all the attacks. Even the United States, they are being attacked in Afghanistan.". His comments drew flak from some quarters of the Indian political spectrum, who criticised him for equating the Mumbai attacks with those in Afghanistan and called it an insult to those killed in the blasts.
Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat
faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the Mumbai blasts saying such incidents are orchestrated to derail the dialogue process between India and Pakistan and that those involved in killing of innocent people 'are enemies of humanity'. In a statement, he said "We are saddened by the huge loss of life in the Mumbai blasts and condemn it. Spilling the blood of innocents, be it in Mumbai, Palestine, Karachi or Kashmir, is a shameful and inhuman act."
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India, on 13 July 2011 between 18:54 and 19:06 IST. The blasts occurred at the Opera House
Royal Opera House (Mumbai)
Royal Opera House, also known as Opera House in Mumbai , is India's only surviving opera house. The name ‘Royal’ got prefixed to ‘opera house’ as its foundation stone was laid during the British Raj in 1909, and King George V inaugurated the building in 1911 while the building was still under...
, Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar is a jewelry market and a major hub for B2B jewelry industry in Mumbai, India. Located at Bhuleshwar in South Mumbai, just north of Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar is a muddle of narrow lanes, dotted with hundreds of jewelry shops that sell gems and jewels, notably Tribhovandas Bhimji...
, and Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
West localities.
Timeline and damage
Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar is a jewelry market and a major hub for B2B jewelry industry in Mumbai, India. Located at Bhuleshwar in South Mumbai, just north of Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar is a muddle of narrow lanes, dotted with hundreds of jewelry shops that sell gems and jewels, notably Tribhovandas Bhimji...
and exploded at 18:54 local time. The second device, planted in a tiffin box at the Opera House
Royal Opera House (Mumbai)
Royal Opera House, also known as Opera House in Mumbai , is India's only surviving opera house. The name ‘Royal’ got prefixed to ‘opera house’ as its foundation stone was laid during the British Raj in 1909, and King George V inaugurated the building in 1911 while the building was still under...
near Charni Road
Charni Road
Charni Road is a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway. The main significance of Charni Road station is that it is very near the Girgaum Chowpattibeach and Marine Drive promenade, a major destination for tourists in Mumbai...
, exploded at 18:55. The third device was placed on an electric pole at a Kabutar Khana bus stand in Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
area and exploded at 19:06.
Following the blasts, phone lines were jammed and communications ceased or were available intermittently for at least a few hours. Other metropolitan cities like Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Hyderabad and Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
were also put on high alert. Immediately after the blasts, the Mumbai Police
Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
sent an SMS to a few mobile phone users in Mumbai reading "Bomb blasts reported at Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar. Please be careful. Stay indoors. Watch news channels". Most of the injured were rushed to various hospitals in Mumbai, such as J.J. Hospital, St. George's Hospital, Harikishandas Hospital and G.T. Hospital.
Mumbai has been hit by terrorist incidents at least half a dozen times since the early 1990s, with over 600 people dying in these attacks. In an editorial, the Times of India described the city as having become a "hot hunting ground for terror."
Casualties and compensation
The blasts claimed 26 lives and injured an additional 130 others.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
and Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
leader Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
visited Mumbai the next day and met with those injured in blasts at Saifee Hospital
Saifee Hospital
The Saifee Hospital is a State of the art, modern hospital built in Charni Road region of Mumbai, India. It has 33 specialised departments, more than 400 doctors and 295 beds....
. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
announced a compensation of 2,00,000 to the kin of each of those killed and 1,00,000 to the seriously injured. Meanwhile, the Maharashta Government
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
also announced 5,00,000 in compensation to the families of each of those killed and about 50,000 to the injured.
Speculations
There was speculation that the pattern of the blasts suggested involvement of Indian MujahideenIndian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group based in India, known for carrying out several attacks against civilian targets in India....
. According to the Special cell of the Delhi Police, Indian Mujahideen has been conducting blasts on the 13 or 26 of the month. Speculation was also rife that the Mumbai underworld could be behind these blasts, in the light of the killing of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey
Jyotirmoy Dey
Jyotirmoy Dey , also known as Jyotendra Dey, Commander J, and J Dey, was an Indian journalist, crime and investigations editor for MiD DAY and an expert on the Mumbai underworld.He was shot dead by motorcycle-borne sharpshooters on 11 June 2011.-Career:Dey started his career with...
, as well as the killing of Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim , also known as Dawood Ebrahim, and Sheikh Dawood Hassan, is the head of the organized crime syndicate [[D-Company]] in Mumbai. He is currently on the wanted list of Interpol for organised crime and counterfeiting. He was No. 4 on the Forbes' World's Top 10 most dreaded criminals...
's brother. 13 July is also observed as Kashmir Martyr's day, and there could be a possibility that the attacks were carried out by Kashmiri groups. There is also a view that the attacks could have been plotted by those trying to derail the Indo-Pakistani peace process
Indo-Pakistani relations
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained by a number of historical and political issues, and are defined by the violent partition of British India in 1947, the Kashmir dispute and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations...
.
The slain MiD DAY crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey had previously reported that a huge cache of 35 detonator
Detonator
A detonator is a device used to trigger an explosive device. Detonators can be chemically, mechanically, or electrically initiated, the latter two being the most common....
s, gelatin sticks and large quantity of ammonium nitrate explosives had been seized on 20 May 2011 from Umarkui and Sayli village in Silvassa
Silvassa
Silvassa is the capital of the Indian Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.The city has a large number of factories and industries providing significant government revenue, which allows the city to maintain a low level of taxation.-Geography:Silvassa is located at...
. Ammonium nitrate, gelatin and detonators have been used in several bomb blasts in Mumbai previously. The report also mentioned that this cache had gone missing soon after local police took custody. The journalist had also speculated that the cache might be used to trigger terror attacks in the city. There were calls for further investigations into this link to the Mumbai blasts by his employer MiD DAY.
Investigations
The Home MinistryMinister for Home Affairs (India)
The Home Minister, or more properly the Minister for Home Affairs, is a position in the Indian Cabinet, at both State and Union levels. The Home Ministry is one of the most important, powerful and high profile ministry after the Prime Minister...
classified the bomb blasts as a terrorist act and dispatched a National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency (India)
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
(NIA) team to the bomb site. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Indian National Congress selected him to be the successor of Ashok Chavan. He is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament...
said that the bombs used could have been fuel filled, much like molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s. Preliminary investigations suggested the use of multiple IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
explosives in the blasts with ammonium nitrate-based explosives mixed with fuel oil. The explosives indicate some level of sophistication. It is also believed that remote detonators may have been used, with two of the three blasts being high-intensity. The Home Minister also announced that his office would be updating the people through the media every two hours.
The Maharashtra ATS was reported to have sought a list of passengers travelling from Kolkata to Mumbai and Kolkata to Kanpur from the Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
police. The suspicions were a result of a Kolkata man with Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen
Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group based in India, known for carrying out several attacks against civilian targets in India....
link having gone missing in the previous few days. A NIA
National Investigation Agency (India)
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
team visited Ahmedabad on 15 July to meet an Indian Mujahideen suspect who was arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with the Ahemdabad blast in 2008. On 16 July, Maharashtra ATS Chief Rakesh Maria
Rakesh Maria
Rakesh Maria is the Chief of Anti Terrorist Squad, Maharashtra, India.He belongs to the 1981 batch of the Indian Police Service. His first posting was as assistant superintendent of police in Akola, and then Buldhana, in the interiors of Maharashtra...
said that, based on forensic opinion and visit to the various sites, the possibility of a suicide bomber was being ruled out. However, a sketch of a possible suspect based on CCTV footage from one of the blast sites was being prepared. He added that in light of the sensitive nature of the investigation, the entire detail of the probe could not be revealed at that particular stage.
On 4 August, Home Minister PC Chidambaram suggested indications of involvement of a home-grown terror module in the blasts.
On 9 August, the Maharashtra ATS arrested one person it claimed had stolen a bike used in the Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar is a jewelry market and a major hub for B2B jewelry industry in Mumbai, India. Located at Bhuleshwar in South Mumbai, just north of Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar is a muddle of narrow lanes, dotted with hundreds of jewelry shops that sell gems and jewels, notably Tribhovandas Bhimji...
explosion. The bike had been stolen from one Amit Singh a few hours before the blasts. CCTV footage showed one person with long hair riding a stolen red colour Honda Activa, entering the crowded lane, taking two left turns, placing the scooter at the spot of the explosion and walking off.
Allegations of police brutality
The Mumbai PoliceMumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
detained several men for questioning. One of those detained—Faiz Usmani—died while in police custody on 17 July, sparking allegations of police brutality. Usmani was the brother of one of the accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings case. It was alleged by his family members that Faiz Usmani was healthy when the police picked him up and that he was subjected to torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
in police custody. The police dismissed these charges and countered that Usmani was suffering from hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
and complained of giddiness after walking himself into a police station. He was admitted to the Lokmanya Tilak hospital
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital
LTMGH, , locally known as "Sion Hospital", is a general municipal hospital situated in Sion, a suburb of Mumbai....
, Sion, Mumbai, following which he died quickly due to blood clots in brain and a heart attack. A CID probe has been ordered into Usmani's death.
Aftermath
In the wake of the blasts, BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
announced that the Boeing-787 Dreamliner, which was on its maiden visit to India, would skip the Mumbai leg of the trip. An official said that it would have been insensitive to take the plane to Mumbai at this time when such a tragedy had occurred and that the decision had also been taken in view of security concerns and so as not to put added pressure to provide extra cover for the aircraft.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Indian National Congress selected him to be the successor of Ashok Chavan. He is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament...
revealed a plan by the Maharashtra government for a future use of satellite phones
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
and the development of a secure communication network
Secure Network Communications
Secure Network Communications is a software layer in the SAP system architecture that enables the use of stronger authentication, encryption and single sign-on mechanism. SAP provides SNC for server to server communications only...
so that the administrative functioning is not affected during such crises as a result of network problems. He also reiterated the need to expedite the procurement of police modernisation equipment and the installation of CCTV
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
cameras at prominent places in the city.
Domestic
President Pratibha PatilPratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
and Vice President Hamid Ansari expressed their shock and condemned the attacks in Mumbai. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
also condemned the bombing, and called on Mumbai citizens to remain calm and show unity. Other politicians, such as Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
, chairperson of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari ;is a senior Indian politician and the current President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is best known for the works during his tenure as a Public Works Department Minister in the state of Maharashta when he constructed a series of roads, highways and flyovers across the state...
of the BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
expressed their anger and offered condolences to the families of the bombing victims. Senior BJP leader L K Advani visited Mumbai on 14 July and stated that the repeated attacks in Mumbai prove policy failure on part of the government. The Left parties strongly condemned the Mumbai serial blasts and rued the government’s inability to track down the perpetrators of recent terror strikes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that this was an attack on the heart of India. Home Minister
Minister for Home Affairs (India)
The Home Minister, or more properly the Minister for Home Affairs, is a position in the Indian Cabinet, at both State and Union levels. The Home Ministry is one of the most important, powerful and high profile ministry after the Prime Minister...
P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram or Chidambaram Palaniappan, sometimes written Palaniappan Chidambaram is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and present Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008...
left Delhi for Mumbai on the same night and visited the three blast sites, met the injured in the hospitals, and interacted with the family members of the dead.
Local politician, Manohar Joshi
Manohar Joshi
Manohar Gajanan Joshi, is an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra. He is one of the prominent leaders of the Shiv Sena political party. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995–1999.-Background and family:...
of the Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
, urged the government to "take immediate steps and find out who are people behind the blasts."
INC general secretary Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and member of the parliament of India, representing the Amethi constituency. His political party is the Indian National Congress.-Early life and career:...
remarked that it was impossible to stop all the terror attacks. He said that 99 per cent of the terror attacks had been prevented in the country thanks to various measures, such as improved intelligence collection efforts. He added that "We work towards defeating it, but it is very difficult to stop all the attacks. Even the United States, they are being attacked in Afghanistan.". His comments drew flak from some quarters of the Indian political spectrum, who criticised him for equating the Mumbai attacks with those in Afghanistan and called it an insult to those killed in the blasts.
Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat
All Parties Hurriyat Conference
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference is a political front formed as an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organizations in Kashmir. It was formed achieving the right of self-determination according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 47...
faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the Mumbai blasts saying such incidents are orchestrated to derail the dialogue process between India and Pakistan and that those involved in killing of innocent people 'are enemies of humanity'. In a statement, he said "We are saddened by the huge loss of life in the Mumbai blasts and condemn it. Spilling the blood of innocents, be it in Mumbai, Palestine, Karachi or Kashmir, is a shameful and inhuman act."
Organisations
- A statement issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
's office read: "The Secretary-General (Ban) condemns the attacks that have killed and injured many in Mumbai," said a statement from his office. "No cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate violence against civilians. The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with the Government and people of India, and extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims," it added.
- A statement read by Peter Wittig, Germany's ambassador to the UN and current United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security CouncilThe United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
President declared that "the members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation." In a deviation from the language used by the Security Council in its condemnations of other such attacks, this press statement did not contain the Security Council's usual admonition to member states that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism, comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, prompting some observers to comment that this was a result of India's growing clout in the premier body.- European Union Foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton's office released a statement that read: "(Ashton) was horrified to hear that Mumbai has again been the target of a series of deadly bomb attacks. She condemns these heinous acts and expresses her condolences to the families and friends of the victims. It is essential that the perpetrators these evil attacks are brought to justice," stated a release issued by her office.
- Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh RasmussenAnders Fogh RasmussenAnders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
expressed deepest sympathies to the victims of the brutal terrorist attacks in heavily populated areas of Mumbai. He condemned in the strongest possible terms the indiscriminate violence and the senseless loss of innocent lives.
Countries
- Afghanistan: During a visit to New Delhi, the head of the Peace Council and former President Burhanuddin RabbaniBurhanuddin RabbaniProfessor Burhanuddin Rabbani was President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996. After the Taliban government was toppled during Operation Enduring Freedom, Rabbani returned to Kabul and served as a temporary President from November to December 20, 2001, when Hamid Karzai was...
expressed his sincere condolences on the innocent lives lost in the Mumbai blasts. Noting that terrorism was not limited to one country he said: "It is now a big threat to the countries in the region and the wider global community". - Argentina: The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that "Argentina deeply sympathised with the families of the victims and pledged solidarity with the Indian government as well as those affected in Wednesday's triple bomb attacks in Mumbai."
- Australia: Foreign minister Kevin RuddKevin RuddKevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
stated that Australia "condemns the attack in absolute terms." He urged Australians in IndiaAustralians in IndiaThere is a community of Australians in India, consisting mostly of expatriates and migrants from Australia. Australia has a High Commission in New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai and Chennai.-Overview:...
to follow the advice of local authorities. Later, Prime Minister Julia GillardJulia GillardJulia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
said that Australia stood with Mumbai and the people of India. - Bahrain: A statement by the foreign ministryMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Bahrain)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Bahraini government ministry which oversees the international relations of Bahrain.- External links :* , ministry's official website...
said that the kingdom strongly condemned the bomb blasts, expressed solidarity with the government and people of India and extended sincere condolences to the families of the victims. - Canada: Prime Minister Stephen HarperStephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
said that: "On behalf of all Canadians, Laureen and I offer our deep and profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured by these heinous acts of violence, including Canadians who may have loved ones in Mumbai. These attacks are a stark reminder that terrorism is alive and active around the globe and can strike at any time. All countries need to work together and take necessary precautions to combat the scourge who perpetrate these atrocities. Canada remains united with the Government and people of India in their fight against terror. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this difficult time. We offer our support as India works to bring to justice those responsible for these cowardly attacks against innocent people." - People's Republic of China: The government "strongly condemned" the blasts, adding that it was "ready to work with India to jointly fight against terrorism."
- France: A statement issued by President Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
's office read: "As the city of Mumbai is again hit by a series of terrorist attacks, the President of the Republic firmly condemns the cowardly and blind violence and wants to express France's full solidarity with India's authorities in these painful hours. More than ever France is standing by India in its fight against the scourge of terrorism." - Germany: ChancellorChancellor of GermanyThe Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
Angela MerkelAngela MerkelAngela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
condemned the Mumbai blasts saying that: "My thoughts are with the many wounded from the Mumbai blasts and my deepest sympathy goes to those who have lost relatives or friends through this act of terrorism. The Indian people can be sure of Germany’s solidarity in the fight against terrorism." - Indonesia: Foreign Affairs Minister Marty NatalegawaMarty NatalegawaRaden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, more commonly known as Marty Natalegawa, is an Indonesian diplomat and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second United Indonesia Cabinet...
declared in Jakarta that: "We strongly condemn the attack and express deep condolences to the people of India for the loss of lives due to the terror;" he added that the recent attack reminded the world that non-state terrorism is a real threat and cooperation is needed to counter it. - Iran: The embassy condemned the indiscriminate, mindless and cowardly terrorist attacks in Mumbai which resulted in death and injury of a large number of innocent people. It issued astatement that read: "It is not only against the tenets of all religions and beliefs but is also contrary to the noble nature of the human being. Iran is a victim of terrorism and is thoroughly against it in all forms and manifestations."
- Israel: A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 14 July that Israel "strongly condemns the shocking terrorist attack which claimed 21 lives and injured over 140 innocent people in the heart of Mumbai, that once again has faced an assault aimed at breaking the spirit of its courageous citizens. Israel stands side-by side with India in its relentless struggle against terror and is convinced that the resilience of the Indian people will prevail. These events are once again a reminder to all forward-looking nations that the scourge of terror must be combated and overcome. Israel expresses its solidarity with India and extends its deepest condolences to the victims and their families and offers its full support and assistance to the Government of India."
- Japan: The Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
issued a statement that read: "Japan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and strongly reiterates that no act of terrorism can be justified;" it further added that "[it] firmly condemns such act of terrorism as inexcusable." - Maldives: In a message of condolence to his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil, Prsident Mohamed NasheedMohamed NasheedMohamed Nasheed is a Maldivian politician. He is the current President of the Maldives. He is the founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party and was its presidential candidate in the October 2008 presidential election, defeating long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a second round of voting...
condemned the bomb blasts and expressed his country's firm solidarity with the government and the people of India. - New Zealand: Prime Minister John KeyJohn KeyJohn Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
said he was "shocked and saddened" by the attack. He also said that "these good and kind people did not deserve to be targeted by terrorists again. The people responsible for these cowardly attacks against civilians deserve nothing but contempt." - Pakistan: President Asif Ali ZardariAsif Ali ZardariAsif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza GillaniYousaf Raza GillaniYousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
condemned the blasts and expressed their sympathy with the Indian leadership on the loss of lives and property.- India took note of Pakistan's condolence in the aftermath of the attack; the foreign ministry said that the blasts would not interrupt talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries designed to take place in the end of July.
- Poland: Foreign minister Radoslaw SikorskiRadoslaw SikorskiRadosław Tomasz Sikorski , is a Polish politician and journalist. He served as Deputy Minister of National Defense in Jan Olszewski's Cabinet and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Jerzy Buzek's Cabinet. He was also Minister of National Defense in Jarosław Kaczyński's Cabinet...
stated that terrorism in all its forms was a "dangerous pathology," which should be "fiercely fought by the 21st century world" and added that "killing innocent people cannot be justified by any ideology or political goals." He sent his country's condolences to families of victims of the attack and to the Indian people. - Qatar: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it strongly condemned the serial blasts, describing them as "terrorist acts contravening moral and human values" and extended its condolences to the government of India and the families of the victims.
- Russia: Foreign Minister Sergey LavrovSergey LavrovSergey Viktorovich Lavrov is the Foreign Minister of Russia. Prior to that, Lavrov was a Soviet diplomat and Russia's ambassador to the United Nations from 1994 to 2004. Lavrov speaks Russian, English, French and Sinhala....
told reporters in a joint press conference with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Russia strongly condemned the serial blasts in Mumbai, terming the attack as a "despicable" act designed to provoke "fear and division. nWe condemn the people who organised this act, and we extend our condolences to India and the Government of India...the Indian people have suffered from acts of terrorism before, and we have seen them respond with courage and resilience." - Singapore: The Foreign Ministry issued an advisory asking its citizens staying in MumbaiSingaporeans in IndiaThere is a small community of Singaporeans in India, consisting largely of expatriate professionals from Singapore and their families as well as international students at Indian universities...
to be cautious. The Foreign Ministry further added that it has not received any reports of Singaporean casualties in the blasts. - South Africa: The spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Clayson Monyela said "...[having] learnt with great shock about the news of the terror bombings, which killed and injured innocent lives in Mumbai on Wednesday. The government of South Africa condemns in the strongest terms these atrocious acts which cannot have any justification at all in an open and democratic society."
- South Korea: The Foreign Ministry issued a statement that read: "Our government condemns the serial terrorist bombings that took place in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, and expresses its deepest condolences to the innocent victims and their families. Our government condemns acts of terrorism as crimes against civilisation and humanity, and believes they should not be tolerated for any reason."
- Sri Lanka: President Mahinda RajapaksaMahinda RajapaksaPercy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
condemned the bombings and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. He said that Sri Lanka will continue to work collectively with India in eradicating the menace of terrorism. - Turkey: The Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the attacks in Mumbai, saying that it is in solidarity with India and other countries that have suffered similar attacks.
- United Arab Emirates: Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a statement that read: "The UAE condemns this terrible, appalling crime and affirms its full solidarity and standing with the Government of India in confronting these criminal acts." He also offered heartfelt condolences to the families of innocent victims and wished for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
- United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary William HagueWilliam HagueWilliam Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
said: "I send my deepest condolences to all those who have lost relatives or been injured in the bomb blasts in Mumbai. These were deplorable acts of terrorism. The UK stands firmly with India in the face of such atrocities. We are committed to working with the Indian government and our allies and partners to combat the threat from terrorism in all its forms." - United States: President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
said: "I strongly condemn the outrageous attacks in Mumbai, and my thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and those who have lost loved ones. The U.S. government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizensAmericans in India-History:During World War II, more than 400,000 American soldiers were sent to India.After the end of British colonial rule in India in 1947, the "colonial third culture" surrounding employment, which featured expatriates in superior roles, natives in subordinate roles, and little informal...
. India is a close friend and partner of the United States. The American people will stand with the Indian people in times of trial, and we will offer support to India’s efforts to bring the perpetrators of these terrible crimes to justice. During my trip to Mumbai, I saw firsthand the strength and resilience of the Indian people and I have no doubt that India will overcome these deplorable terrorist attacks."
External links
- Photos. NDTV.
- Eyewitness Photos. NDTV.
- Photo Gallery. IBNLive.
- Mumbai Blast Coverage, Published by Chris Augeri
- Blasts in Mumbai: July 2011 – slideshow by Life magazine