India - Mumbai attacks - shootings
'Citizen journalism' offers intimate view of Mumbai attacks
Thursday 27 November 2008
From Twitter to Youtube, online platforms enabled Internet users to read and watch first-hand reports on the series of deadly Mumbai attacks that rocked the Indian financial capital within a few hours of the first blasts.
Thursday 27 November 2008
By FRANCE 24 (text) / Luke SHRAGO (video)Leave your comments on the Mumbai attacks by clicking the "React" buttons on this page.
Click here to read blogs and see photos from our Observers in Mumbai
Internet users were able to read and watch first-hand reports on the series of deadly Mumbai attacks that rocked the Indian financial capital within hours of the first blasts, a sure sign that the World Wide Web is revolutionising the way information reaches readers.
Online blog and chat service Twitter gathers fresh news from dozens of commentators every few seconds. Some use the chat to reassure their friends and family: “In Mumbai and safe”, wrote user s4ur4bh at 2h50 am. Others offer their analysis on the nature of the little-known Deccan Mujajideen terrorist group, whose members claimed responsibility for the attack.
An entry on the attacks was quickly created on the collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia, with fresh updates that provided more detailed reports than many traditional media sources could offer. “Attacks took place in South Mumbai, at the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station; two five-star hotels, the Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; the Leopold Cafe, a popular tourist restaurant; a hospital; and the police headquarters where at least three high-level officers, including the anti-terrorism chief, were killed by gunfire,” it stated late on Wednesday.
Qatar-based TV network Al Jazeera posted a Google Maps page pinpointing the location of the different attacks, and appealing to Web users for details.
Dozens of videos, both mainstream and amateur, have already been uploaded on Youtube. In a video called “Shocking new pictures from Mumbai attacks”, web user madonnadownloaded posted images that are more graphic than those aired by traditional networks.
Even major news networks such as CNN aired photos taken by a Web user called "Vinu”, portraying ravaged streets and shocked citizens on Flickr in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
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04/12/2008 16:14:19 Alert a moderator
Forgetting
By Concerned - Norway
Balwinder, it is indeed unfortunate that you have been treated with such inconsideration, however I feel the attacks in Europe has been largely "forgotten" as well by the world. It is certainly not spoken of often. And that is a dangerous thing, I think. I would also like to offer you MY condolences, as I noticed that this attack has been treated as "low-key" as well by a numbed media and people when its repercussions assuredly are grave. Had I known any Indian people I would have done the same to them, and I don't even see myself as especially compassionate. It is clear that India is subject to much of the same terrors as Europe and The USA, and it is my belief that we'd do well to stand together in the face of this threat. I hope this illustrates that there are Europeans who are understanding of what has happened, and I am ashamed of those who disregard it. I hope you get whoever is behind this.
04/12/2008 05:12:26 Alert a moderator
Terror and SoLLUTION
By M Ariely - Israel
Terror and solution
A:Terrorism serves some Muslim regimes aspiration
B;Double language:Talking softly to west
Encouraging extremism inside against infidels
C:Acting against extremists only when their regimes are in danger
Shielding extremists from their victims justes
D;What is needed?
CHANGE OF BASICS
Close madras's teaching extremism
Forbid@act against hate preachers in Mosks&Media
Accepting multicultural rights&enforce the law
Update DAR EL ISLAM-DAR EL HARB to
LOVE ALL HUMAN
03/12/2008 14:19:41 Alert a moderator
Mumbai attack
By Balwinder - Paris/New Delhi
I was on a tour of France with my Americans when this attack took place in Mumbai. The reaction of one of my guests was" why is CNN only covering this? Only 200 people died". I was shocked and told her it was like 9/11 and she said "oh! but 3,000 Americans were kikked!" I was too shocked to comment on this as in fact it reflects the opion of many Americans and Europeans too! not one of my colleagues who all know I am Indian even offered condolences. So now another attack in India is going to be forgotton if not already done by the International community. We in India have been suffering such attacks constantly in India and Kasmir and except for the Soviets no country even looked onto the Kashmir issue! we are under attack since 1947 by terrorists! will more people have to die before action is taken?
03/12/2008 08:54:00 Alert a moderator
I am Shoked when i think
By Rashmi - Bhubaneswar
I don't understand why people do this.Are they getting more money?and how only few people can capture three big buildings?It is really a shoking thing.If any one of my family would be there then what?All should think in this way....
02/12/2008 22:36:17 Alert a moderator
clarification
By yuvraj korpe - mumbai
i had held the banner reading "All the HARDLINER political parties"; here the stress was on d religion-based parties n not on all d political parties. as these hardliners had severely criticised our martyr 'hemant karkare' for malegaon blast investigation n he had to lay down his life to prove his integrity towads his job n countrymen. let there b no political interference into the work of r forces n investigating agencies atleast in matters of national security. however at the same time i also appriciate the hardwork put in by reporters like leela jacento into the hour of crisis by patiently listening to the aggitated people around. we indian pray for relatives who lost their dear ones including d relatives of the young terrorists killed;who unfortunately failed to incorporate the supremacy of love n peace into the hearts of these young lads. god bless their souls.let the world come together by solving problems with alms n not with arms.-yuvraj korpe.
01/12/2008 10:32:11 Alert a moderator
Razza you are right
By Anonyme - RDC/Goma
Dear friend, i am sorry to what has happened to India and every body is sorry for it but you need to regognize the responsibility of your country in this issue because no one can understand how this could happened since India is highly protected. In stead of thinking on the improvement of the security in India, now every body is focusing on Pakistan. How to protect innocents should be the main focus. I am sorry because if India react like USA in Afganistan, innocents will die more and more. All people have the same right. The point of Kazza is not stupide. Kazza is right at 100%. Thanks
30/11/2008 22:15:54 Alert a moderator
God bless the Indian commandos and police
By Anonyme - USA
I have been to the taj hotel it is a very large hotel with many openings and exits. It would be extremely difficult to clear out hostages and take out terrorists.
The Mumbai police and commandos are true Heroes!
29/11/2008 17:51:48 Alert a moderator
How stupid point
By Parvesh kumar - india
Your point is so stupid because without getting into the facts you are giving this kindof point, just for the final investigation and then decide wht is right and what is wrong.
29/11/2008 16:00:15 Alert a moderator
What are the Pakistanis talking about?
By Anonyme John herbert - England
There have been lots of terrorst attacks 9/11,Jaipur, Bomabay etc and now 26/11 one of the worst happennongs in the whole history of Mumbai and India.
We know quite well that Muslims have been heavily involved, brainwashed , propulsed by International Muslim groups to perpetrate such actions all over the place to create havoc , destruction and demoralisation to peace loving people and citizens whereevr they may be and this in the beloved name of Allah! !
Now the militants who have been killed and one who has been captured alive, has confessed he has links with Pakistan and no doubt that the well planned movement from the trainers and their involvement had been prepared well in advance . The number of heavy geared weapons and guns , artillery cannot come from a small group of rascals , miscreants who just wanted to have some fun. They are Muslims and have emanated from Pakistan who now is on the forefront to try and say they are not aware and involved in whatever way .
These militants being brainwashed were claiming to be from Deccan Muhajedeen or what , a pure invention from the Authorities who guided them through to mislead the world .
No stone to be left unturned and those involved severely dealt with once demythtified. Innocent lives again lost at the detriment of God!!! The authorities in India also have been lax with the invasion of Mubai by what 10-20-40 terrorists?? They should be more concerned and India as a whole should work together to avoid such things happening.
29/11/2008 12:18:17 Alert a moderator
Thank you India
By Patrick Warner - USA/NYC
All these terrorists have accomplished is proving to the world that they consider life meaningless and that are just outright savages. They even shot into the crowd outside. What they have achieved for themselves is a status below zero. They are uncivilized. The Indian commandos removed them the face of the earth so they would be unable to do iit again. Civilization must close its ranks and purge and remove such savages ffrom the face of the earth. Thank you India and its soldiers for doing what needed to be done..
29/11/2008 12:05:48 Alert a moderator
religion
By Anonymejohn connolly-bond - uk
please print my comments you are printing others why not mine do you not belive in freedom of the press are freedom of speach i personal went to a war for this FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT / FREEDOM OF SPEECH ALL OF THESE RELIGIOS ARE ALLOW TO STAD ON THEIR SOAP BOXES AND SAY JUST WHAT THEY WISH I PERSONAL HAVE NO RELIGION IT CAUSES TO MUCH TROUBLE IN THIS WORLD LOOK AROUND YOUR SELF I DONT KNOW WERE I CAME FORM I DONT KNOW WERE I AM GOING
29/11/2008 10:19:18 Alert a moderator
mumbai atacks a CONSPIRACY!
By raza - usa
I am a student of journalism and I’ve raising this point since I have caout up wth news about mubai attacks I did post this comment earlier on YouTube but they removed it, which I think clearly proves my point! The indians think made it all up! IT’S A CONSPIRACY, even If a Pakistani kid/child accidently enters the indian border, they kill him/her and how is it that the hostage takers came to india on a boat, and the indian navy never noticed, how stupid is this and the indinas keep on bluffing about their the power of their navy? Hahahah…Moreover the indians just want to blame Pakistanis for no reason, they weren’t sure from the beginning and till now aren’t sure how many hostage taker were there in the hotel ,but they were sure that they were Pakistanis, again how idiotic…This clearly show that it’s a conspiracy! So I need to know how many of us agree to my point?
28/11/2008 22:03:53 Alert a moderator
I visited a site and liked a comment, it say:
By Simon Mohammed - USA
This is time that the muslim need to change all the way of their thinking:
I read other comment and article, and i felt the need to write a comment and share it with you in this site, I hope it is not arrogante:
---
And i mean it, Every one.
First i am sending my sincer condoleances to all humanity.
second: why we all need to change the way of thinking it is because 143 killed, arround 400 or more injured and the start of this masacre are:
1- islamist group, not proved yet likely will be
2- 2 Giant countries if they don't use wisdome can clash and it will be a new disaster
3- The importantes people who been killed arround 17 (UK, USA, French, Israeli Etc
and the rest who are human maybe most of them are Indian arab, muslim do not count.
and that is why i think every one need to change the way of thinking.
We the human are all under attack and we do not know for sure who is behind it, we speculate.
again my sincers condoleances to the humanity.
Best regard
28/11/2008 14:43:58 Alert a moderator
How can Muslims be one sided and not caring for other communitie
By Anonyme/Humanity - England
" Many who blames muslims thing. The growing feeling of insecurity and lose of trust of the majority of
indian moslems in their home land.India is the home land of Indian moslems too.Accept that"
signatory Indian Moslem.He is saying that India is the homeland of Indian Moslems too. Who is saying that it is not?But does he try to mean and say that India is not the homeland for Bharat Hindus and other communities?The very fact that Muslim terrorists are conducting these attacks and have been targeting Mumbai holding the city in siege are they Indian Moslems or are they backed by external forces most probably Muslims themselves who are well known world over to conduct such businesses for such a long time?To this Indian moslem who posted this view and to all others who have elected to live in Bharat India: Have they not thrived on this soil and succeded as any other Hindu.Millions of those Indian moslems have been given the opportunity to live successfully without any prohibition.or distress.Does he mean that Hindus or other communities,peace loving citizens need to suffer at their detriment?Our Hindu community too have the right to live in this India which Muslims are desecrating. To kill.To mortify. They should be ashamed to call themselves humans.There must be other forces behind these horrific attacks. They pretend to target the British,etc. So why choose Mumbai to carry out these attacks? They have created chaos to the most beautiful hotels in the world and it's not American,Britishor Jewish. It's bloody Indian lest he forget! If you have a grudge against them go there, NOT here in MUMBAI.
And adding further:Do educated Muslims understand the fact that they should live and work decently where they are rooted ? This is the saddest part of it too.You seem to forget that Hindus and others' homeland is India. Accept that ! Work together as Indians , as you seem to approve?Do you.?
27/11/2008 21:16:39 Alert a moderator
Mumbai Innocent Victims
By Anonyme Jean - Paris
On Thursday, one of the gunmen holed up in the Trident-Oberoi hotel told the India TV channel by phone that they wanted an end to the persecution of Indian Muslims and the release of all fellow Islamic militants detained in India.
This is a quote from the news on Thursday --- The terrorists are saying that there is a persecution(!) of Indian Muslims and wanted a release of all fellow Islamic militants detained in India.
These militants, as they say, are their fellow men. Therefore all of the same feather: terrorists.
Why in the first place were they being detained ? Are they being persecuted or guilty of terror attacks or simply connected with just to blow up India? These present terror attacks have been well planned and have tried to disseminate their attacks in the whole city targeting prominent places such as the Taj , Oberoi, VT station etc. They wanted to blow the airport too. This means that this orchestrated movement has been propulsed from fertile minds to kill innocent lives and who are those who have supplied these grenades, explosive weapons, guns, and what other arsenal intended to create chaos and havoc.
Whosoever are behind this must be laughing seeing their sick motives being actioned. These youths do not value human life as they themselves have been killed in the encounter. This means that if they do not respect their own lives how can they respect others'.
Whatever terrorist is left and caught should be dealt with severely and all those connected with such crimes should have the utmost sentence without any pity shown to them
27/11/2008 20:29:22 Alert a moderator
Death Toll
By Alexander Dale - New York City
As the death toll in this Al Qaeda attack climbs rapidly past the hundred mark think back to what it was like for New Yorkers to have 2,783 people murdered where we live.
And to how sucessful the 'Unilateral Cowboy Diplomacy' the hand wringers of the world have never stopped whining about has been in keeping it from happining here again.
Time for Prime Minister Singh to saddle up ...
27/11/2008 19:21:14 Alert a moderator
Bombay under attack! Why?
By Krapotkin - USA
Beside the Kashmir conflict, India has been under a perennial religious,tribal and economical bloody conflicts, seldom relayed in the western media. We had a massive attacks on Muslims,Christian and poor farmers, from Indou extremist and mercenaries paid by industrial interests needeing cheap lands for industrialisation, almost on daily basis.
I opine, that there is no need to blame oustsiders for the Bombay tragedy, too many peoples within India, are pushed daily to the limits of acceptable conditions, that generates a bloody reactions, such as the world is witnessing today!!!
Houston,TX
27/11/2008 18:25:59 Alert a moderator
Terrorists
By Anonyme - Bound Brook NJ USA
It is zealots and extremists of any religion or "ism" which are the problem for humankind, not Islam per se. Insanity seems to be fairly evenly distributed across the human race - it is up to civilized people to cooperate and contain the crazy ones! I am not Muslim, yet my own religion has had its share of lunatics. Pray as if it its all up to whatever God you believe in, work as if it is is all up to us, co-operate with like-minded people.
27/11/2008 15:52:49 Alert a moderator
Mumbai
By M.LeClerc - Aquitaine, La France
Several world leaders you report have condemed these attacks by this group of murderous criminals.
Why haven't we seen reports of condemnation by muslim leaders? Surely they should be outraged that these gangsters are carrying out acts of murder[a crime in any religion] in the name of their religion.
27/11/2008 14:14:46 Alert a moderator
bombay (Mumbai)
By Anonyme.joseph walker - sherborbe dorset uk
The only ones confused are CNN and the english broadcast news media,The indians will soon sort out the situation,these broadcast media are to ignorant ,thier news panders to the uneducatd and ignorant people in thier respective countries.ps these media should remember thier own terrorist carnage in new york.i suppose nobody paniciked travelling to america..get educated .Alqueda is more intelligent than the news media ,they know thier strategey of misinformation will pander to thier ignorance
27/11/2008 13:19:26 Alert a moderator
Tragidy
By Bek Dam - Imo State Nigeria
Mumabi is now a dead trap for foreigners, I am in Mumbai now and has been a nightmare to the inhabitants of this surbord, I suggest that the global village should aid the Indian forces to control this situation as many foreigners are still traped in some of the attacked hotels.
27/11/2008 10:58:46 Alert a moderator
Mumbai Attacks
By Anonyme -
We are given to understand that the terrorists have gained access to Mumbai city by Alfa vessel and disembarked using inflatable boats to firm land. However I find it difficult to comprehend how they did enter the Taj or Oberoi with weapons, grenades and a series of arsenal without being noticed by any member of the staff or anyone.
I have not seen this being scrutinized yet, unless I am wrong in saying so. These terrorists have gained the hotel premises on the 15th floor or the 5th floor of the hotels targeted without being disturbed as it looks. How ?
Also all the other targeted locations .
And the loss of innocent lives is again emphasized here where punishments by law are very often too generous towards crimes to society.