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Mumbai siege gunmen are from Britain
Justin Davenport and Rashid Razaq28.11.08
- I saw fifty bodies in hotel, says Army chief
- Trapped tycoon was texting son, then he was shot
- He looked at me and showered the bar with bullets, says Briton
- India's 9/11 strikes at the heart of Mumbai
- 'I locked myself in the room and prepared for the worst'
- Troops storm the Jewish centre but hostages 'are dead'
- Link to West Yorkshire, home of the 7/7 bombers
AT least two British-born Pakistanis are among the Mumbai terrorists, it was revealed today.
According to one source, as many as seven of the gunmen may have British connections and some may have come from the Leeds and Bradford area.
Two Britons were captured with eight other terrorists after commandos stormed two hotels and a Jewish centre to free hostages. The death toll mounted to 143 people this morning after 24 bodies were found in the Oberoi hotel. Later, Israeli rescue service Zaka reported that all the remaining nine hostages in the Jewish centre were believed to be dead. More than 327 people have been injured.
Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh revealed that up to 25 terrorists were responsible for the bomb blasts and shootings that targeted tourists and foreign interests.
Detectives from Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command were in Mumbai today liaising with the Indian authorities.
One security official told the Standard: "There is growing concern about British involvement in the attacks."
Images of some of the gunmen were being studied by the security services in an effort to identify them.
The Indian TV channel NDTV quoted government sources as saying two of the terrorists were British.
Indian authorities have not released any details about the two Britons and the Foreign Office has refused to confirm Indian television reports.
Gordon Brown said today it was "too early" to reach any conclusions about British involvement.
Seven terrorists have been confirmed as killed by Indian special forces.
Gun battles were still continuing today with stand-offs at the three buildings.
Between six and eight Islamic militants, professing to be part of the Deccan Mujahideen, were believed to be still holed up, spread between the five-star Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels and the Nariman House Jewish centre.
Three terrorists arrested at the Taj Mahal hotel have been officially identified as a Pakistani national and two Indians.
Another of the detainees is reported to be a Mauritian national.
Indian commandos have recovered credit cards and the militants' ID cards as well as seizing a vast arsenal of grenades, AK-47 magazines, shells and knives.
Security sources have told the Standard that the attack is believed to be alQaeda-linked and it is known that dozens of British-born Pakistanis have travelled to Pakistan in recent years to train in its camps.
One source said recently: "The camps are full and many of the people inside are Brits."
Met officers were also interviewing passengers returning from Mumbai as they stepped off planes at Heathrow Airport.
Around 100 hostages have been released from the Oberoi Trident in rescue operations while more than 400 people were brought out last night from the Taj Mahal hotel, where commandos were still fighting cat-and-mouse battles with a lone gunmen today. The death toll was expected to rise as troops battled their way the hotel. Soldiers said they found 30 bodies in just one hallway.
It has been confirmed that 24 bodies have been discovered at the Oberoi hotel, which is now back under the control of the authorities.
One security official said eight foreigners were known to have died, among them one Briton, three Germans, a Japanese, Canadian and Australian.
At the Oberoi hotel, groups of captives were rushed out and put in waiting cars, buses and ambulances.
Among those released were a group of about 20 airline workers, including seven South African crew members and seven Lufthansa staff. As they came out some carried luggage with Canadian flags, and two women were dressed in black abayas, traditional Muslim women's garments.
Reader views (54)
Re '- Liberal Thinker, UK' I think you'll find we have one of the most, if not THE most open and tolerant society in the world. The comments by others are not racist, they are frustrated at our inability to deal with these parasites on society
- Paul, Chatham, UK
We don't know it's true yet. But if it is I fully expect we'll "demand" their return to the UK, put them on trial and give them 100 hours community service. It's v depressing.
And what on earth is going on in West Yorkshire?! It seems like its "anything goes" up there.
- David, Cardiff
i feel for all the people of India today, god help them all. Sorraya
- Sorraya, croydon
I see the conspiracy theory nuts are out in force. One thing however is indisputable,apart from their mindless killing, they have been very selective in choosing victims, they reveal themselves as murderous racists. We wait to hear who they are and what twisted belief system they turn to for direction.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset
I agree with Liam.
I'm a practicing Muslim and I'm not a British citizen.
But I have never seen somany radical extreme Muslims/Islamic groups in my e tire life as I can find in London alone!
Political correctness is making UK the largest breeding grounds for terrorists!
If some one is a criminal just say it and take every necessary action- don't let go just because he is from a particular religious group!
- R M, London
Lets be honest ... With the mess the so called "War on Terror" has created and the lies we are fed on a daily basis by corrupted Governments and so called secret services etc. to justify and fund this "no win" bogus war.
Can you honestly believe anything we are told these days by the media or those they are reporting on??
Take it from me, there will never be peace in this world unless/untill we address the route cause of this problem!!
One last thing. These "Cowards" are not muslims. Islam like all great religions condems any form of murder.
These are exremist monsters, who use Islam as a cover for their own evil.
My sympathies go out to all the famalies of those that have been affected by these senseless killings in Mumbai!!
- Feroz, Graceland
If there are Brits involved,don't let them back to serve a sentence in our 'Nanny State' prisons.Leave them in India to face the Indian friends and loved ones of the people they have slaughtered. If as your sources say the training camps are full of 'Brits',Don't tell me... just go and get them rounded up. How does someone get away with going to these camps and return to the UK without being 'sorted out'. Too many questions unanswered....Too much Rhetoric all round!
- Kev, herts
"British-born Pakistani" should mean someone born in the UK but of Pakistani or dual British/Pakistani nationality. This probably gets blurred also to include someone born in the UK whose parents had Pakistani nationality, whether or not that suffices to make their children into Pakistani citizens under Pakistani law.
We should, perhaps, introduce a formal oath of alliegance to the crown for someone born here with dual nationality, much as we have for immigrants who apply for UK nationality. It would be voluntary, but a person preferring not to swear it would lose a UK citizen's automatic right to remain in the UK and might in some circumstances be required to leave.
- Nigel, London
This is a desparate attempt by militants to gain recognition of the unjustices of foreign policy. When will the western world realise that it is time for consultation. I agree that you cannot negotiate with terrorists, but you can see that the alternative is to expect continuation of attrocities such as in Mumbai. Who really has the figment of imagination in politics to see there will and are no winners - certainly not the USA!
- Deeps, London
It is high time that an old law was applied with vigour to a new problem. If a UK citizen takes up arms against the UK or a friendly power, it should be called what it is. Treason. Anyone who intentionally assists such a person is equally a traitor. Treason should be prosecuted as such. Calling on UK citizens to fight against their country is incitement, and therefore also treason.
I'm also annoyed with newspapers saying that terrorists "executed" someone. They did not. They murdered him. "Execute" means specifically a killing sanctioned by the law of the country in which it took place. Applying the word to terrorists gives them an utterly unjustified appearance of legitimacy.
- Nigel, London
Political correctness has infected every aspect of public life, meaning ever increasing loss of civil liberties, but with resulting diminishing, not increasing, security from terrorism. What happens in India now could happen here if we don't take steps to deal with extremism. England awake!
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
Fighting terrorism has to start at home and in school ie teach what is right and what is wrong. Like everything else in British life discipline is no longer important. There is absolutely no regulation or control. What is more important is peoples rights. What rubbish, total freedom equates to anarchy. I hope all the so called 'do gooders' and idiotic 'pc' freaks are really proud of themselves. Terrorism has absolutely nothing to do with religion and should not be talked about in the same breath. I dont recall during the problems in Northern Ireland references being made to Christian Terrorists or Christian Fundamentalists. I was once proud to be British but if it is true that even one member of this band of outlaws was born in Britain then that pride will just evaporate into shame.
- Pedro, Dubai UAE
Every Tom, Dick and Harry is British nowadays. Britain will be the largest exporter of Terrorism within 20 years, mark my words.
- Liam, London
I just want to say one thing when ever anything like this happen in the world the epidemic is always Pakistan or people belongs to Pakistan. What’s wrong with Pakistan Government, can’t they control these extremists. I would like to request to America to declare Pakistan a terrorists country. And I urge the Pakistani people living in UK and enjoying the facilities in UK to start love and respect other peoples and the country where you are living and not to the country where you come from. If while living and enjoying your life in UK or any other country you still love Pakistan than why don’t you just go and live there. You like the benefits’ here and still support Pakistan. Please Mr. Prime minster wake up tight your borders especially counties like Pakistan or the countries who support these extremists and terrorism, stop giving these people aids or shelter. They are just using and abusing.
- Ric, London
They may hold a British passport, but they will never, ever be British.
They don't have any British qualities.
- P I Staker, London
Les,
Common stereotype. The truth is the caste system in India is upheld only by uneducated people. This class of folk is fast on the decrease as India grows rapidly in status.
Amazing how you can comment on the caste system following such an international disaster!
Keep the comments relevant to the news... it's about terrorism and the cowardly act. It's about innocent lives lost!
Still, at least in India, the consequences for those involved will be swift and decisive! The ones that survive...will be executed without a doubt. No faffing around like our side of the globe!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
I am a Muslim. First of all, there should be some redical changes to be implement in immigration system. Britain should not issue Visa to the foriegn imaams who don't have english knowledge to work in the mosque. Also Immams should be qualified to work in the mosque i.e
they should preach in English and they should be a moderate Muslim. Most of the extremist promotion comes from South Asia and Africa. It is a very sad situation.
- Muheed Jeeran, Colombo
Keith, India is run by Indian National Congress, which is worst that NuLiebour. Remember they are still harbouring the terrorist who attacked the Indian Parliament, to which the Supreme Court the highest Indian Judicial Authority has sentenced for Capital Punishment.
- Rasesh Dave, London
No violence is acceptable, or the threat of violence. These are evil and inhuman people. They aim to destroy societies. They live evil lives.
Similar attacks are planned for London and UK cities. Perhaps bombs by West End shops, buses and railways at Christmas. 5 or 6 bombs at the same time could prove islamist superiority? They will kill many to prove what? That the Koran demands deaths?
Why is no-one sorting out the core values of terror? Why is noone speaking against such evil? Where are the writers, media, politicians, communities, church?
Who is unpicking the central excuses for this terror?
Communist ideas were exposed as deep failure. These ideas have similar totalitarian dogma. Only the violence is nastier, used with deception on women, children, shoppers.
The terrorists use core excuses from the Koran. 14 verses exort the killing of anyone who changes faith.
Who is challenging these so called 'values'? What does Rowan Williams say? The Council of Ex Muslims of Britain are braver than him. They face daily death threats. Wet Willy hides in feebleness, ruining people's faith.
What does Brown and Labour say? Vote Labour and vote often. European Regulators condemn Labour's postal vote system as 'childishly easy to defraud', which one Labour Minister says suits Labour.
Islamists aim to destroy communities, stop travel, ruin trade and wealth, instill fear in people.
When will people challenge the values of terror?
- Jim, fife
Liberal thinker: Throwing the word "racist" around does not strengthen your view or undermine the comments on here, infact it weakens your post and shows how bias your views are. There is a deep connection between Pakistan and terrorists that must be highlighted and measures must be put in place to ensure it does not happen in the UK. All travel to and from Pakistan must be restricted ASAP and all immigration from cultures not compatible with western culture must cease. This is called common sense!
- Branson Thomas, London UK
Eddie, Linda, anyone with a UK passport is "British" period.
- Craig Preston, London
They were not Al-Qaeda, they were not targeting Brits and Americans, and the media are lying to us about what happened. This incident is an absolute classic false-flag operation designed to provoke the US and the UK into attacking Arabs. You will certainly find Mossad's fingerprints all over this outrage.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
Suprise suprise, blaming Al Qaeda and Pakistanis so that the US with the help of the UK can continue the "War on Terror" and it's attacks in Pakistan.
Anyone who looks in to it will see that there has been lots of attacks in India for some time with many people being killed, this is not the first time. Original assesments said there were no hallmarks of this being an attack by the ficitious al qaeda. Next the ghost of Osama bin Laden will appear and scare the living daylights out us all so that we look to the government for help and more restrictions to our lives.
- Brian, London
Not for nothing is London known as Londinistan.The uk has long been castigated as a haven for Islamic terrorists by every European country and the Americans and been called the weak link in the fight against them.How long did the British government let Abu hamza close the streets around finsbury park before the Americans forced the British government to arrest him?The British government continues with its attempts to try to appease the islamists by giving grants to the Muslim council of Britain(who elected them),continues to fund Islamic faith schools,allows the saudies to fund mosque building and jihadist material etc etc,we have all heard pronouncements from mi5 that thay are watching in excess of 2000 Islamic terrorist cells etc.The British governments attempts to appease this minority religion is a continual source of embarrassment to most right thinking people the world over and will literally blow up in there and our faces one day.All the security services have said it is not if but when,and we wont be able to cry we didn't know.
- Kev, London
Dave
They are not Muslim terrorists, just terrorists trying to use Islam as a reason.
And before you ask no, I'm not a Muslim.
- Doug, Barnet
I think half the planet have now got British paasports......... We are losing our country to the EU and soon will not be able to call ourselves British / English due to the fact that Muhamood is also in that category. What a joke
- Grim Reaper, Hell
There is a small band of terrorists taking advantage of many dissafected teenagers and students. Those aged between 18 and 25 have little worldly experience but they think they have the simple answers. These people are being taken advantage of by people with an ideology and no guts to try to do something themselves. All the leaders are 40+ and know enough that they get someone else to do the dirty work and lay down their lives. Those who lay down their lives tend to do so thinking that their simple solution is the answer to their frustrations. They will not live to see that their actions are futile. The ideologues use their death and maryrdom to preach hatred to the next set of naives. Those who carry the guns are foolish and naive - there is a steady stream of them. The world needs to be more effective in taking out the leaders. Without the dog, the tail won't wag.
- Jon, london,England
What does it mean "British-born Pakistanis", please? If they are British-born they are British of Pakistani extraction. Or is my command of English off mark?
- Mariusz, London, UK
They are not terrorists. Don't you people pay any attention to the BBC?
- Somchai, Bangkok
As someone who has lost a family member to terrorism I feel qualified to say this: Amid all the carnage and accusations flying all over the place, it must be remembered first and foremost that a lot of innocent people have paid the ultimate price for the warped ideologies of a bloody-minded few hiding behind their religion. May they all rest in peace.
- Andy Seaman, Bow, London
- Saunaing Tic Gill, LONDON, England
Please feel free to leave our terrible country.
Liberty have done more to allow them into this country and then protect them, than any radical Muslim organisation.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
This doesn't surprise me, after all there are British born Pakistani's fighting our troops along-side the Taliban.
Home grown Moslem lads were responsible for the London bombings, and planning to bring down trans-Atlantic flights.
I sometimes wonder what is really being taught in the mosques, do they preach hatred for the British as their number one priority?
- James, Malta
Where these young men were born has nothing to do with the mindless and senseless killing. Why kill inoocent civilians, what have they done to you and will help your cause absolutely not. I never write and comment on these issues before, but I think it's sickening how human beings can be so ruthless or should I say cowards. I believe these cowards should be dealt with in the harshest way possible. My condolences goes out to all those families.
- Kenny, London
Saunaing Tic Gill - Bangladesh is a known route for those avoiding being detected entering Pakistan. This was no way an 'ethnic slur' but a sad fact that there is no point in stopping one direct route when there are so many others available.
- Sandy, London
The last thing these people are is 'British'. They are simply British Passport Holders, a right they have probably abused from birth. There's plenty more about.
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK
How does it feel now to be British Mr.Brown?Still proud of our nation?
I washed my hands of my 'nationality' years ago,glad I did.
- Steve, London
It makes you ashamed to be British hearing this news!
But of course these people are NOT TRULY BRITISH, they come here, infiltrate our way of life and repay there freedom of speech and open way of life by these sort of actions!!
Fly, London is right - how many other countries allow everyone and his dog into the country like we seem too????
Why are polish people living here and selling the Big Issue????
If I wanted to go and live in Canada, Australia etc I would need to show that I could support myself and that I had a job to go too but here they arrive and beg! that is wrong.
- Janey C, inverness scotland
Frank,
They don't want sympathy for their cause. Just like the Borg in Star Trek, "resistance is futile, submit or die". That is their objective.
Total global Islamic domination. You either become Muslim or you die. Simple.
Time has long passed when we should have kicked this hate religion genie back into the bottle. We allow it to fester and give it sanctuary here at our peril.
This ideology represents the greatest threat to our safety since a short Austrian man decided he wanted to take over the world in 1930s.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
I think we should treat this as a wake up call to get our act together. We are so busy showing the world how tolerant we are, we are going to tolerate ourselves into extinction.
- Gladys, Kent, UK
Sandy
I didn't realise any of these people were Bangladeshi, oh, because there are no reports that they were.
Let's just lock anyone up that looks a bit brown. And pass stronger laws for the Police who will then use them against any citizen they are able to including MPs like Mr Green. Groups like Liberty get slaughtered on forums like this yet they predicted Anti-Terror laws would be used in non-terrorist cases which has indeed happened again and again. The implications on here that we should reduce the rights of ALL people of descent from Pakistan/Bangladesh/any Muslim country is frightening.
You all need some muscle relaxant to stop your knees jerking.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, LONDON, England
Don't panic! India is not run by NuLiebour and is not soft on crime. I do not think that we will be seeing much of these individuals for some time.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
With some of these badly veiled racist comment you wonder why British Pakistani's feel the need to act.
That said killing people in no way to solve anything and never will be.
Hatred breeds hatred!
- Liberal Thinker, UK
I have a colleague of Indian descent and he tells me that once the culprits have been fully interrogated they will be efficiently disposed of, no messing around with human rights and perceived justice, would anyone really care?
- Richard James, London
Neil wrote: 'This was a Mossad operation, designed to trick America into attacking Arabs.'
No Neil, the Pope organized the terrorist attack on Mumbai with the help of King Kong, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Man in the Moon - it's an inter-galactic conspiracy to persecute peaceful, innocent islamists.
- Derek, London
Thes are not British citizens. They are muslim terrorists who only cliam to be British to recive our protection.How long will it be before some lawyer is asking for them to be brought back because of their human rights.
- Dave Smith, Croydon
As British citizens they can expect the full protection and support of the Foreign Office and therefore treated leniently like all other British criminals abroad. Hopefully, if convicted they will be allowed to serve their sentences in a British prison and not one of those horrid foreign ones.
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, UK
India describes itself as a democracy whilst upholding the Caste system which fixes a person's life chances by an accident of birth. Discuss.
- Les, Middlesbrough, UK
what do we expect. We have little or no control of who comes and goes into this country. They can preach hate in the streets and in their mosques without being stopped and we the British tax payer pay for them and their families to stay here.
- Fly, london
How long will it be before 'British' born terrorists take over a hotel in Manchester, London, Birmingham ?
The quicker there is better passport security between the UK/Europe and Pakistan/Bangladesh the quicker we can identify those that leave our land to wage terrorism or train up with our enemies.
It's time the government woke up.
- Sandy, London
".. a team of Scotland Yard anti-terrorist detectives .." - Surely they are too busy doing the governments bidding of 'terrorising' Tory MPs? What communist police state?
More to the point, I cannot understand these peoples mindsets. When you go on a murder spree, especially against innocent unarmed men, women and children, you gain absolutely NO sympathy for your cause. Whatever that might be?
Can you radical Muslims please try and get this through your heads. It simply angers us and stiffens our resolve to beat you. By the way, your vastly out numbered.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
I really hope that Britons are not amongst these terrorists (but depressingly, I would not be in the least surprised). It is high time our self-righteous country starts to fight terrorism (and by that, I don't mean fighting illegal wars in Iraq, or the feeble 'outrage' expressed by our politicians). We have a sickening obsession with political correctness and placing the human rights of terrorists over those of their victims. Our society has become a place where terrorists can thrive and without firm action, we are in grave danger of becoming a major exporter of international terrorism.
- Zady, London
Please don't call them British I find it very insulting
- Linda, italy
This was a Mossad operation, designed to trick America into attacking Arabs.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .
Mmm,Pakistani but born in Britain?I don't think that automaticaly makes them 'British.'
- Eddie, London
