Mumbai: Al-Qaeda inspired foreign group behind attacks

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New Delhi, 27 Nov. (AKI) - The deadly attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai bear the hallmarks of a foreign, Al-Qaeda-inspired group, a New Delhi terrorism expert Vikram Sood told Adnkronos International (AKI) on Thursday. Sood described the attacks as a "very serious" assault on the Indian state.

Suspected Islamist militants launched a series of coordinated gun and hand-grenade attacks late on Wednesday, killing over 100 people, injuring nearly 300. A number of hotel guests were also taken hostage in the attacks.

"I don't believe it was the Deccan Mujahadeen at all," Sood said, referring to a previously unknown group which claimed responsibility for the Mumbai attacks.

"The group doesn't exist. It's a red herring," he told AKI.

Sood is the vice-president of the Observer Research Foundation's Centre for International Affairs, a New Delhi public policy think-tank. He is also a former head of the Indian external intelligence agency's research division.

The militant group that carried out Wednesday's attacks in Mumbai appeared to be extremely well trained and well backed in terms of logistics, money and weapons, Sood said.

"From the TV shots of the terrorists, they are totally in control and have a long-term perspective" he said.

He described the Mumbai attacks as a "qualitative leap" compared with other recent attacks in India such as the May serial blasts in the western Indian city of Jaipur which killed at least 66 people and left about 200 wounded.

"They have made no demands but they are holding hostages and dragging it out. They are anti-Jewish, anti-American and anti-British," said Sood.

The militants reportedly attacked a Jewish centre in Mumbai, took a rabbi hostage, and sought British and American citizens, asking to see their passports.

Sood declined to comment on whether a Pakistani militant group might be responsible, saying it was "too early to say".

But he said: "This kind of attack needs careful planning, reconnaissance, knowing the behaviour of security personnel and those coming and going, and how to be inconspicuous."

Wednesday's highly organised attacks on ten mainly western and business targets in Mumbai are similar to the devastating serial blasts that killed 250 civilians and wounded 700 on 12 March 1993, Sood said.