'No regrets': Captured terrorist's account of Mumbai massacre reveals plan was to kill 5,000
Last updated at 10:02 AM on 01st December 2008
Cold-blooded killer: Mumbai terrorist Azam Amir Kasav begins his rampage
This is the only surviving gunman of the massacre in Mumbai. Seconds after this picture was taken, 21-year-old Azam Amir Kasav began to kill.
He and the terror cell's leader began their attacks at the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji rail station.
They later hijacked two cars, before police caught them. During two days of questioning, Kashmiri-born Kasav, who used the alias Ajmal Kasab, told police: 'I have no regrets'.
He is said to have told officers the cell was to seek out 'white targets, preferably British and American'.
The terrorists thought they would come out alive and had an escape route, added Kasav.
He revealed that the ten terrorists, who were highly trained in marine assault and crept into the city by boat, had planned to blow up the Taj Mahal Palace hotel after first executing British and American tourists and then taking hostages. He then added that their intention was to kill 5,000 people.
Mercifully, the group, armed with plastic explosives, underestimated the strength of the 105-year-old building's solid foundations.
As it is, their deadly attacks have left close to 200 confirmed dead, with the toll expected to rise to nearly 300 once the hotel has been fully searched by security forces.
Yesterday, Kasav chillingly went through details of Wednesday night's killing spree across the city, which ended when he was cornered by police.
He pretended to be dead, which probably saved his life. It was only when he was being transferred to hospital by ambulance that his accompanying officer noticed he was still breathing.
Once inside Nair Hospital, Kasav, who suffered only minor injuries, told medical staff: 'I do not want to die. Please put me on saline.'
Scene of terror: The lobby area of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai after the attack
And as Indian commandos ended the bloody 59-hour siege at the Taj yesterday by killing the last three Islamic gunmen, baby-faced Kasab was dispassionately detailing the background to the mayhem.
Some of the militants, including Kasav, posed as students during a visit to Mumbai a month ago, filming the 'strike locations' and familiarising themselves with the city's roads.
Devastation: Wrecked by explosions and fire, below is a picture of the Harbour Bar at the Taj Mahal Palace on Saturday. A few days ago it was one of India's finest venues, above. Now all that remains is a charred shell
And Kasav described how he and an accomplice sprayed machine-gun fire around a busy railway station, killing dozens of people, before intending to move to the exclusive district of Malabar Hill, where they planned to 'take VIPs hostage'.
One police officer said: 'That, thankfully, never happened because we managed to stop them.' Police insist that Kasav confessed to being a member of the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has denied involvement in the carnage, and claimed he and the others were trained in the Muslim country.
The body of a suspected militant lies inside the Nariman House building
Intelligence analysts are keeping more of an open mind, however. And some political observers point out an unhelpful tendency by the Indian authorities continually to blame 'Pakistan elements' without solid evidence.
Some speculative reports emerging from New Delhi even suggested Pakistan's intelligence services had a hand in training the terrorists.
Meanwhile, claims that up to seven of the terrorists could have been British men of Pakistani origin, who had connections to West Yorkshire, were being widely discounted.
A top Indian official, Maharashtra state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, said there was 'no authentic information' to suggest that any British citizens were involved.
The UK Foreign Office also said there was 'no evidence' that any of the terrorists were British.
One report suggested that one of the terrorists had been working at the Taj hotel as a kitchen porter for up to eight months before the attacks and had produced a British passport during his job interview. But this was strongly denied by the hotel management.
Scotland Yard detectives arrived in Mumbai yesterday, but only to lend their assistance and expertise to the investigation.
According to the account of Kasav's interrogation, given by police sources, the terrorists were trained over five months in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, then had a month off before the attacks. At some stage, they also received intensive instruction in 'marine assault' operations.
Murderous: Azam Amir Kasav and another gunman are seen at the Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station
Terrifying: Azam Amir Kazav carrying an automatic rifle in the train station in Mumbai
Kasav and the nine other terrorists, who communicated using BlackBerry mobiles, began their journey to Mumbai on November 21.
Initially unarmed, they left an isolated beach near Karachi in a small boat, before being picked up the following day by a larger vessel.
At this point they were each given eight hand grenades, an AK-47 rifle, an automatic pistol and ammunition. And in anticipation of a lengthy siege, they also carried dried fruit.
Kasav told police that the group then hijacked a fishing trawler bearing the name Kuber near the maritime boundary between Pakistan and India.
A rubber dinghy lies in a police station in Mumbai, it was found near the site of the attacks - Kasav said the gunmen transferred to inflatable dinghies to go ashore after journeying from a beach near Karachi, Pakistan
Four of its crew are missing while the fifth has been found dead, apparently beheaded. Its owner and his brother are being questioned by police.
On November 23, after reaching Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat, 310 nautical miles from Mumbai, the insurgents were intercepted by two coastguard officers. The group hoisted a white flag and allowed the two men to board their boat.
According to Kasav, one of the militants then attacked one of the officers, slitting his throat and throwing him overboard. The other man was forced to help the group reach their destination before being executed as the vessel drew near to Mumbai.
For most of the journey, Kasav's friend, 25-year-old Abu Ismail, a trained sailor, steered the vessel using GPS equipment. Three speedboats met the Kuber a mile and a half from the Mumbai seafront on Wednesday. After waiting for the light to fade, they moved off, later transferring to two inflatable dinghies to go ashore.
Grim task: An Indian soldier gives instructions inside a charred room of the Taj Mahal Hotel, and below, weapons recovered from the terrorists following the hotel siege
The two groups then split up. Four men went to to the Taj hotel, two to the Jewish centre of Nariman House, Kasav and another man set off by taxi towards the railway station, and two headed for the Leopold restaurant.
While his colleagues were executing hostages at the Taj, Kasav and Ismail first opened fire with their assault rifles at around 10.20pm, killing dozens of people standing at Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station.
Then they hijacked a police 4x4, killing the two officers inside. Kasab told investigators they continued their killing spree by attacking a petrol station and blowing up a taxi before being stopped.
'I have done right,' he told investigators. 'I have no regrets.'
Engulfed: The Taj Mahal engulfed in smoke during a gun battle between Indian commandos and the militants
One police source said: 'He [Kasav] was telling our people this in a most dispassionate way and responded to the horror their faces betrayed by shrugging his shoulders, as if it was all of no real consequence.'
Sources said tests on Kamal's blood and urine showed he was under the influence of drugs to help keep him alert during the long battles with Indian security forces.
Guests who had been holed up during the three-day siege at the Taj hotel told of their ordeal yesterday.
Briton Richard Farah, who was trapped in his room before being rescued by commandos, hid his passport in his false leg after terrorists were reported to be seeking British and American passport holders.
'I saw all the blood and broken glass and shrapnel. Tons of blood and shoes, people's shoes, women's shoes, men's shoes,' he said.
'In the last few hours there were so many explosions and the floors shook.
I said, 'I'm a goner,' because it was right below me.
Eventually, we got to the lobby. I'd hidden my passport in my leg. If they had come to get me they wouldn't have found it.'
Evidence was emerging last night that the the gunmen killed their victims early in the siege and fooled Indian security forces into thinking that they were holding hostages.
At the Sir J.J. Hospital morgue, an official said that of the 87 bodies he had examined, all but a handful had been killed during Wednesday night.
Share this article:
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below?
While the world chastizes George Bush for instituting supposedly "draconian" security measures, there has NOT been a successful attack in the US since our wake-up call on 9-11. Softer targets (especially those with nuclear-armed neighbors) may be well served by this tragic event, and follow some examples set. Israel was first and foremost in having to protect itself in what critics like to call "draconian" fashion. The US followed suit. Spain's reaction was that of capitulation. Perhaps now it's India's turn to see the light. Who's next?
Whoever these men were, wherever they were from, whatever group sponsored them...they were and are evil, their plan and their cause are vile, a profane, debauched, twisted perversion.
For our friends in India, I wish you all peace. You will recover from this wound. Eventually, you will find justice and the wicked among us will be made to pay for their crimes.
Justice must be taken to any remaining terrorists -- anywhere they might be.
Add your comment
FEMAIL TODAY
- After that disastrous X Factor performance, Britney high-tails it to New York Miss Spears jetted to the U.S. as criticism of her miming mounted here
- Geri is more Cheeky Girl than Spice Girl in a transparent red dress Miss Halliwell gave a glimpse of her bottom as she did a twirl at the Children's Baftas
- While mummy's away, daddy Becks is left holding the babies (and they're running riot!) The little ones proved a real handful on a boys' outing to the basketball
- Gordon's F-word joke about his 'affair with Delia Smith' as he laughs off claims he had two more lovers The chef made light of the latest allegations
- Worse-for-wear Alesha Dixon celebrates chart success by cavorting with TWO men The 30-year-old star left Movida looking a little tipsy at 3.30am
- Angelina Jolie shows off her flat stomach proving she's NOT pregnant The mother-of-six pulled on a slim-fitting tailored dress in New Orleans
- Simon Cowell 'completely freaked out' after his £140k Bentley is bugged The pop mogul's security team found a tracking device under his car
- Fresh-faced Coleen parties until 6am... and still makes it to Wayne's lunchtime match Mrs Rooney performed her WAG duties after clubbing with friends
- Animal magic: Eva Longoria Parker dazzles in long zebra print gown and short hair The Housewife made a stunning arrival at a wedding in Puerto Rico
- Last Tango for Christine Bleakley as she gets kicked off Strictly The TV presenter left while Rachel Stevens was saved
- Oh dear... Katie Holmes steps out looking blue (but loses out to Posh in the stylish mac stakes) The actress added to the colour blitz with blue trousers
- Shock double eviction on I'm A Celebrity as both Esther Rantzen AND Timmy Mallet leave camp They were the fourth and fifth contestants to go
- Can you tell a woman's emotions by her wardrobe? LIZ JONES tells you where Madonna is right now Madonna's outfits show she's in a very dark place
- Jack Straw joins Cabinet attack on Jacqui Smith over Tory MP arrest fiasco
- Meltdown at the Met: Now Sir Ian Blair's replacement could be forced to quit as he is dragged into MP raid backlash
- Baby P chief set to quit with six-figure pay-off deal AND pension as report exposes shocking council failings
- BREAKING NEWS: Massive explosion on industrial estate where 'The Office' was set
- BBC in new decency row after Torchwood star John Barrowman exposes himself during live broadcast
- Boy killed after being hit TWICE in hit and run smash
- War hero 'punched eight times by police in appalling assault' ordered to pay THEM compensation
- Council paying police officers £56 an hour to act as minders for traffic wardens
- Welcome to Soviet Britain: The towns where half the population relies on the state for a job
- Climate change targets could push up household bills by a QUARTER, says Government chief
- City banker pays £50,000 to become world's first 'affordable' space tourist
- Man charged with arson - for lighting Guy Fawkes bonfire on village green
- Hundreds of fans duped over forged tickets for David Tennant's West End Hamlet debut
- Hungover motorists are 'four times more dangerous than sober drivers'
- NHS nurse who was paid £100,000 in one year
- Drivers hit with 2p a litre fuel stealth tax from today in £1.2m windfall for Darling
- Mortgage lending dives 70% to second lowest figure on record as new bank collapses
- RBS offers lifeline to struggling homeowners by pledging six-month respite before repossessing their properties
- Darling's tax reforms 'leave middle class families £1,500 worse off than in 1997'
- Pictured: Motorist's lucky escape after teenage yobs drop concrete block on car
- Police shoot man dead at 'Omen' cathedral
- When Santa's hat got stuck on a chimney.... THREE fire trucks turned up because it was an 'elf and safety' risk
- Sea turns red as 150 whales are battered to death against rocks in mass stranding off Australian coast
- Anti-ageing face creams 'don't work' (but exercise and good diet do)
- Mandelson blamed over 'Britain wants to join euro' claim from EC president
- Amateur footballer dies after being attacked at end of match
- MORE HEADLINES
- Arrest... or assault? Judge's disgust after soldier is held down and hit eight times by POLICE
- LATEST: Jack Straw joins Cabinet attack on Jacqui Smith over Tory MP arrest fiasco
- BBC in new decency row after Torchwood star John Barrowman exposes himself during live broadcast
- Welcome to Soviet Britain: The towns where half the population relies on the state for a job
- Baby P chief set to quit with six-figure pay-off AND pension as report exposes shocking council failings
- BREAKING NEWS: Massive explosion on industrial estate where 'The Office' TV comedy was set
- The NHS nurse who was paid £100,000 in one year
- Police shoot man dead after stand-off at 'Omen' cathedral
- Meltdown at the Met: Now Sir Ian Blair's replacement could be forced to quit as he is dragged into MP raid backlash
- The sea turns red as 150 whales are battered to death against rocks in mass stranding off Australian coast
- Three fire engines turn up to rescue Santa's hat from 'impossible to climb' university spire after student prank
- Boy, 11, killed after being hit TWICE in hit and run smash
- Fairway to heaven: Hit some golfing highs at the loftiest resort around
- MAIL COMMENT: Is Miss Smith telling the whole truth?
- Now Britain is leading the world... in promiscuity
- Universities run blacklists of pupils who study 'soft' topics at A-level
- Angry MPs threaten showdown with Speaker of the House after Damian Green arrest
- MELANIE PHILLIPS: The Mumbai atrocity is a wake-up call for a frighteningly unprepared Britain
- Pregnant woman triggered into giving birth by violent mugging outside her North London home
- 'Bonkers' council dreams up new way to curb binge drinking.... blowing bubbles
- MOST READ IN DETAIL
My families prayers and thoughts go out to all the victims and the survivors of this horrific act. Words can't bring back the lives lost as there is nothing that can. I can only hope and pray for the tortured souls to find some peace in the rest of humanity and their faiths, secure in the knowledge that man kind is not all a bunch of sick animals.
It's plain to be seen that the brainwashing that goes to creating terrorists still gos on. Every effort must be put into finding those who breed such a sickness and put them down immediately. It matters not whose religion they claim nor what they claim to justify such horror. The time to let go of barriers and boundaries, if only for this one purpose, is now. All out effort must be made to find these mad people and destroy them. There simply is no excuse for this to ever happen again.
- John Campbell, Bakersfield, CA., U.S.A., 30/11/2008 02:49