LeT hit Mumbai in Nov after two failed attempts in Sept, Oct

Chicago, May 27: After two failed attempts to strike Mumbai in September and October 2008, the Pakistani handlers of the 26/11 accused David Headley began planning the attack on India's financial capital "more closely than ever" in early November that year.

Testifying before a Chicago court on the fourth-day of the trial of co-accused Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana today, Headley, 50, said the first planned attack was in September, then in October and it finally happened in November.

Sajid Mir, one of Headley's Pakistani handlers, told him that the attack would occur on the 27th night of Ramadan (considered as the night of glory in Islamic calender), which in 2008 would fall on September 29, according to documents presented to the court earlier.

However, the plan had to be abandoned as the boat carrying the attackers got stuck on a rock and was destroyed, the court documents said.

"Sajid told Headley that everyone on board survived, in part because they had life vests. Headley subsequently met with (Major Abdur Rehman) Pasha and told him about the failed attempt. Pasha said that the failed attempt was a sign that God was not happy with Lashkar," it said.

Sajid told Headley that there would be a second attempt at the Mumbai attack in October 2008. Soon thereafter, Sajid told Headley that the second attempt also failed.

The attackers on board the boat had spotted an Indian fishing vessel and attempted to open fire on it, but the vessel escaped.

"Sajid said that the ''boys'' were demoralised and sent back to a safe house in Karachi," the court papers said.

PTI