Sunday, November 30, 2008

Azam Amir Kasab

An initial report in the Daily Mail concerning captured Mumbai terrorist Azam Amir Kasab reveals some interesting points:

--> the terrorists captured the Indian fishing trawler bearing the name Kuber, and utilized it to get to Mumbai.

--> the Indian coast guard actually intercepted the (captured) Kuber: On November 23, after reaching Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat, 310 nautical miles from Mumbai, the insurgents were intercepted by two coastguard officers. The group hoisted a white flag and allowed the two men to board their boat. According to Kasab, one of the militants then attacked one of the officers, slitting his throat and throwing him overboard. The other man was forced to help the group reach their destination before being executed as the vessel drew near to Mumbai.

Either one of these events should have set off bells and whistles.

***
The Statesman noted the terrorists were given local help in India: Kasab, who is being kept in an undisclosed place, has reportedly revealed that the ten terrorists who landed at the Gateway of India were extended logistic and other “active support” at three targets: the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House. He is understood to have given the names of five local contacts who acted as accomplices in the terror attacks. (...) These “locals” might have helped them with fake I-cards and other facilities. Investigators, who surmise from documents recovered that at least some of the terrorists had visited Mumbai in the recent past, posing as “students” from Mauritius, are yet to confirm whether these local accomplices helped facilitate these visits.
Satellite phone conversations with Muzzamil alias Yusuf, in charge of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba's India operations, have been confirmed. The terrorists were trained in boat and ship movements at Pakistan’s Mangla Dam reservoir.


A report at SIFY titled Arrested terrorist says the gang hoped to get away did NOT mention the coast guard matter. SIFY did note: According to Ajmal, the Lashkar-e-Taiba had trained all terrorists in marine warfare. According to one report, they received training in a special course called Daura-e-Shifa which converts a routine terror strike and into a specialized commando raid. According to a Times of India report, Ajmal has revealed the name of his fellow jihadis, all Pakistani citizens, as Abu Ali, Fahad, Omar, Shoaib, Umer, Abu Akasha, Ismail, Abdul Rahman (Bara) and Abdul Rahman (Chhota). (...) The group received arms and ammunition on board a large Pakistani vessel which picked them up the following day.[Nov. 22. They hijacked the Kuber on Nov. 23 and reached Mumbai on Nov. 26]

***
tmcnet reported:

Kasav, during interrogation, led police officials to Al Kuber, the boat terrorists used to enter Mumbai. He had specifically said that body of the Sarang -- the captain of the boat -- would be found in the engine room along with a GPS and a satellite phone. The information that was passed on to Coast Guards was found to be precise.

He also told investigators that Mumbai Police's quick reaction and intense retaliation had surprised him because of which he was forced to move out of Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) with his accomplice.

Kasav was sent with an instruction to take over CST along with his accomplice Ismail Khan, whose identity is still to be verified, and to hold fort for as much time as possible.

Once out of the station, Kasav depended solely on the digital maps, which the terror outfit had provided him to find his way to Cama hospital, Metro Cinema, Vidhan Bhavan, and later to Girgaum Chowpatty -- where his accomplice was gunned down and he was arrested.


***
Taj Mahal hotel chairman: We had warning:

The Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, temporarily increased security after being warned of a possible terrorist attack, the chairman of the company that owns the hotel said Saturday.

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