Attacks in Mumbai

I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. I thought for sure that perhaps I'd misheard the news report and the talks of attacks and hostages and gunfights was a report coming from Iraq rather than the streets of Mumbai but as I listened to the news last Wednesday I was struck by a mixture of feelings from shock, to anger and then rage. The coordinated attacks on popular tourist locations in Mumbai, India last week were as unexpected as they were sudden. Having actually visited some of the locations attacked including the famous Taj Hotel and CST Station (more commonly known as the Victoria Terminus or VT Station) I was saddened to hear that at one point, reporters were stating that there were injuries ranging as high as 900 with close to 100 dead. As more and more information came out the news was clarified a bit but no less devastating. Now nearly a week later we know that close to 400 people were injured and at least 100 some people were killed when gunmen opened fire with machine guns and bombs.

As I listened to the news I was even more surprised to hear from witnesses who still seemed a bit shocked at the events that the terrorists at the two hotels, the Taj and the Oberoi, were looking for American and British tourists and were demanding to see the passports of whomever was staying in the hotel so that they could keep the Americans and British hostage. The Indian security forces including the Mumbai police and military units along with the fire brigades all had a hand in helping bring the several day ordeal to an end and have helped speed the investigation along. Although not all the details are being released, some of the facts known at present are that the terrorists seized control of a merchant ship and then rowed into the harbor in Mumbai and came ashore at night. The terrorist cell had personnel on the ground in Mumbai and they had apparently done a great deal of reconnaisance in order to make the maximum effect when they started their attacks.

Soon after the shooting began the previously unknown group Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility. Their exact reasons or motivation for attacking Mumbai and for targetting American and British tourists remains unknown at this time but one can only speculate. Whatever the motivation or rationale that they give one can only wonder why they would target so many innocent people. Perhaps some who believe staunchly in their cause will say that the slaughter of infidels is justified and that the persecution their people have felt over the past so many centuries is coming to a head. That may be justification enough but is it justifiable to kill those who have no warning or that had nothing whatsoever to do with the decisions that these groups find so vehement?

If groups such as these hold America and England responsible for some of the misfortunes that have befallen their countries, their religions or their people then by perpetuating the violence, does it help the situation or does it hurt it? I have seen the images of not only the police but innocent people standing on train platforms who were shot dead for doing nothing more than standing in line waiting to board a train to who knows where. Were these the decision-makers? Were these the people who should be the target of such hatred? Are children who are being raised to practice another religion the enemy? Rather than stopping the hatred and the attrocities are we not simply feeding the flames by tossing blood like oil onto it?

No matter what group or religious motivation has spurred this attack, I am still at a loss to understand why. I don't suppose there will ever be a reason that could justify this or any similar act in my mind. This was not a military attack that went wrong or a bombing of a target that was suspected of harboring terrorists. This was a blatant attack on innocents. One could say that the attacks on India's Parliament several years ago was an attack on a government that has been at odds with Pakistan. But an attack on a crowded train platform? That smacks of aiming the attacks at someone who has nothing to do with the decisions they find so reprehensible. Perhaps some will rally to the cause of groups like Deccan Mujahideen while others will condemn them. All I know is that rather than bringing greater peace and understanding to Islam, all these attacks have done is further tarnish the name of one of the world's oldest religions. In the end I guess no one has won.