Report: Indian Authorities Capture Three Pakistani Terrorists

November 28, 2008 2:26 p.m. EST

Mumbai, India (AHN) - Indian authorities said Friday they had evidence that the coordinated attacks in Mumbai were carried out by a Pakistani-based terror group.

According to the public television broadcaster of India, Doordarshan, police arrested an injured terrorist at the Taj Mahal hotel. The terrorist, who police believe is named Ajmal Amir Kamal, has admitted to being part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani-based group and one of the largest and most active Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia.

Two other Pakitani nationals captured on Thursday have also identified themselves "as members of a Lashkar fidayeen squad." Police believe the three were part of a group of 12 "fidayeen" or suicide squads who left Karachi on a merchant ship early on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday stopped short of accusing Pakistan for the attacks in a nationally televised address. We will take up strongly with our neighbors that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated, and that there would be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by them," Singh is quoted by the BBC as saying.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has said in a statement, according to Bloomberg, that "Instead of scoring political points at the expense of a neighboring country that is itself a victim of terrorism, it is time for India's leaders to work together with Pakistan's elected leaders in putting up a joint front against terrorism."

The coordinated attacks in India's financial district included shootings and explosions and began Wednesday night. A little-known group called Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility. The attacks targeted, among others, the Oberoi hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace, the Tower hotel, the Nariman House Jewish center, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus rail station.

Indian commandos rescued 148 hostages at the Oberoi hotel on Friday but were unable to save five hostages in the Jewish center. Commandos said the hostages at Nariman House were killed by terrorists, according to NDTV.

Casualty reports have ranged from 125 to more than 150 dead and more than 300 injured. Two Americans, 58-year-old Alan Scherr and his 13-year-old daughter Naomi, were killed at the Oberoi, according to a Virginia-based foundation called Synchronicity, for which Scherr had worked.

The attacks were made as India began one of four state elections on Thursday. Polls opened in Madhya Pradesh state despite the terror in Mumbai; polls are set to open as well in the nation's capital, New Delhi, on Saturday, and in two other states next week.