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US 'warned of Mumbai terror attack'
INDIA received warnings from US intelligence in October of a possible terrorist attack "from the sea" on targets in Mumbai, CNN and ABC News reported today.Unnamed US intelligence officials told ABC they had warned their Indian counterparts in mid-October of a potential attack "from the sea against hotels and business centers in Mumbai". One intelligence official even mentioned specific targets, including the Taj hotel, the TV news service said. CNN said Indian sources confirmed that US officials warned them twice of a possible attack on Mumbai. About ten gunmen landed in rubber dinghies on the beaches of Mumbai on Wednesday and wreaked havoc with automatic weapons and hand grenades, in a 60-hour assault that killed at least 172 people, including two Australians, and injured close to 300. Indian intelligence officials told ABC News that on November 18 they intercepted a satellite phone call to an address in Pakistan used by the leader of the Lashkar e Taiba terrorist group, revealing a possible sea-borne attack. The group is believed to be behind the bloody Mumbai attacks. US officials also said US intelligence has been tracking prepaid SIM cell phone cards recovered from the Mumbai terrorists, which has led them to a "treasure trove" of leads from Pakistan and several possible connections to the United States, ABC reported. They said one of the SIM cards may have been purchased in the United States. No further details were provided because of the ongoing investigation, ABC reported. Posted by: ed 2008-12-02 |
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