Anti-terror squad says 'big power' behind Mumbai train bombs

ABC News
Jul. 12, 2006

The head of the anti-terrorist squad investigating Mumbai's train bombings says a "big power" was behind the well-coordinated operation.

More than 180 people died in the seven blasts that targetted the city's train network.

Hundreds of people were wounded.

The explosions hit within minutes of each other during the Tuesday evening rush hour.

The police anti-terrorism squad chief K P Raghuvanshi says it was a well-coordinated and well-planned operation and it seems some big power was behind it.

Forensic experts are examining timers found near the scene of the seven blasts, six of them in first-class compartments, that happened little more than 10 minutes apart.

Officials say they have not yet identified any group behind the blasts and no group has yet come forward to claim responsibility.

Newspaper reports claim police are investigating growing ties between two Islamic outfits, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pious), and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

The Lashkar-e-Taiba is a Pakistan-based outfit that has been banned by both New Delhi and Islamabad and declared a terrorist organistion by the United States.

SIMI, a students' outfit, was banned in India in 2001.

Reaction

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for calm, describing the attacks as a shameful act and urging the Indian people not to believe rumours.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Washington will stand with India in the war on terror.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has sent his condolences to the Indian Government and the people of India.

"I send my sympathy, my support, my compassion, my expression of concern to the Indian people and to the Indian Government," he said.

The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai has expressed his shock and sympathy.

And neighbouring Pakistan has also condemned the attacks through its spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, Tasnim Aslam.

"These are terrorist acts and we are really disturbed by them and we mourn the loss of many lives," she said.

Mumbai has been hit by terror attacks in the past, with the worst in 1993, when several bomb blasts killed around 250 people.