Third major terrorist strike in Mumbai in last 15 years

Mumbai, Nov 27 (UNI) The terror rampage across the metropolis last night was the third major attack in the last 15 years in Mumbai.

The metropolis first became the target of major terrorist strike on March 12, 1993 in which 13 serial blasts took place, damaging among others, the Air India building and Bombay stock exchange, the hub of financial activities.

The blasts followed after the demolition of Babri Masjid and the subsequent riots, killing over 250 people.

Another serial attack on the city took place on July 11, 2006, when seven blasts ripped through the running western local train service at peak hours, killing 187 people and injuring nearly 800.

Yesterday's attack consisted of blasts and indiscriminate firing using AK 47 targeting five star hotels and the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station, among other places.

The incidents of blasts and firing took place at nine places all over the city, with south Mumbai becoming the major target and one of the blasts took place in a cab in Vile Parle, a western suburb.

Three top police officials, Anti-terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamthe and nine other policemen were killed in the attacks so far.

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