US offers $5m reward for Mumbai attackers

Nahla Abdel Moneim

The US administration announced on Monday, November 26, 2018, that it will give a reward of $5 million for information on the arrest of the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008.

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the attack that killed nearly 195 people and injured 327 others, the State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program has decided to provide a reward of up to US $5 million in Indian currency for any information that would contribute to the arrest or to convict anyone who committed or conspired to commit, assisted or planed the terrorist operation.

The US move is linked to the two-week meeting in Singapore between US Vice President Mike Pence and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Moody. Pence highlighted the delay in investigations into the incident, pointing out that the crime occurred 10 years ago while the perpetrators are free and have not yet been brought to justice.

The Mumbai attacks on November 26, 2008 included a gunbomb and bomb attack on the passenger lounge at the Chattrapeti Shivaji central railway station, killing 50 people, in addition to shooting at a police station in southern Mumbai, a cafe, a hotel, a cinema, a hospital, and the Jewish Chapad Center.

In addition, the perpetrators of the attacks launched six explosions at the famous Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, as well as shooting at the guests. There were, however, members of the European Parliament inside the hotel. The terrorists detained a number of hostages who were later released.

An unknown terrorist group calling itself “Deccan Mujahedeen” claimed responsibility for the incident, raising doubts about the seriousness of this announcement. In particular, the security services revealed that the terrorist operation was carried out with high accuracy and at the same time, the security authorities in the country were confused.

In the light of this, the security men are likely to have this Deccan organization in connection with extremist groups, most notably Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terrorist group active in Pakistan since the 1990s, founded by Hafez Mohammed Saeed, and announced by the United States in 2001 as a terrorist group following the Mumbai investigation.