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A decade after 10 Islamic terrorists besieged three days the siege of the Indian financial capital, Mumbai, and killed 166 people, businessman Dilip Mehta remembers the horror of the past nine hours in a banquet hall in a luxury hotel. armed men would be attacking the interior.
"I feel traumatized when I hear about terrorist activities around the world," said Mehta, who was finally evacuated by an emergency exit.
From the mark left on the survivors and families of the victims to the blow to the links between India and Pakistan, the attacks of coordinated attacks that began on November 26, 2008 are still profound.
Solemn commemorative ceremonies were held in the city for the victims as India marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks, during which heavily armed gunmen stormed several targets. Mumbai police paid tribute to more than a dozen officers and commandos killed in the operation against activists Two luxury hotels held private offices while a Jewish center , also attacked, unveiled a new memorial to the memory of all those who died in the attack.
"Our solidarity with bereaved families A grateful nation pays tribute to our police and brave security forces who fought the terrorists in the Mumbai attacks," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.
The Foreign Ministry said that it was "of deep anxiety". Victims of the attack from 15 countries "are still waiting for the closure of Pakistan, which is showing little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators to justice." The 26/11 planners are still wandering the streets of Pakistan with impunity. "
New Delhi said the attack was organized by the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba and that she often scolded Islamabad for failing to act against the group's founder, Hafiz Saeed. Saeed, who has been designated a terrorist by the United Nations, denied any involvement and Pakistan claims that India has not produced enough evidence against it.
Announcing a reward of up to $ 5 million for information leading to arrests or convictions of those involved in the Mumbai attack in 2008, the United States has also stated that it "s worth $ 5 million. it was an affront to the families of the victims that those who planned the attack were not convicted. .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on "all countries, especially Pakistan, to respect their obligations to the United States Security Council to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates ".
Nine of the ten armed men who participated in the attack were killed, one was captured. He was found guilty and hanged.
According to Harsh Pant of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, the 2008 attacks in Mumbai continue to cast a shadow over Indo-Pakistan relations. "When you talk about rapprochement with Pakistan, when you talk about talks with Pakistan, the stakeholders are very limited." "The question arises: why did we fail to bring to justice the perpetrators of these acts?"
While Mumbai had already suffered terrorist attacks before those of 2008, the strikes were the most daring. The three-day siege highlighted the weakness of coastal security in India: the 10 terrorists infiltrated the city on board a fishing boat.
Since then, maritime security has been strengthened and coastal police stations have been set up. On the eve of the wedding anniversary, police officials said the city was better prepared to cope with the threats. terrorist threats.
"I can assure Mumbaikars that the city is safe and that the police can protect you from any eventuality," said Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.
Businessman Dilip Mehta used counseling services for months after being threatened by a terrorist bullet at the Taj Mahal Hotel, where for about 60 hours gunmen shot and killed the hotel. but he says that he feels safer. "Now, regardless of the precautions and measures that have been taken, I feel completely safe in Bombay," he said.
