MGIN01: MUMBAI MONITORING GROUP SITUATION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 125713 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2018 TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC PTER KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT, IN SUBJECT: MGIN01: MUMBAI MONITORING GROUP SITUATION REPORT NO. 1 (U) CLASSIFIED BY:BARBARA M. THOMAS, S/ES-O, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). TERRORISTS LAUNCH COORDINATED ATTACKS IN SOUTH MUMBAI -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Teams of gunmen stormed ten locations in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a hospital, a Jewish community center, and a restaurant. At least 100 people are reported dead, and over 240 have been injured. The Deccan Mujahidin, a previously unknown group, claimed responsibility. (Mumbai 545, CNN) ¶2. (SBU) Three AmCits are confirmed injured, at least one of whom has undergone surgery. All official Americans are accounted for. There are conflicting reports regarding the condition of the head of the Jewish community center, who is a U.S.-Israeli dual national. (MG/ConGen Mumbai conference call, MG/Israeli Embassy telcon) ¶3. (SBU) Embassy New Delhi has sent an Assistant RSO from Chennai and an FBI agent from New Delhi to assist, and has issued a Warden Message urging AmCits to defer travel to Mumbai for at least 48-72 hours. (MG/ConGen Mumbai e-mail) ¶4. (S) New Delhi LEGATT has provided assistance in tracing the e-mail source of the Deccan Mujahidin responsibility claim. Embassy New Delhi plans to develop a list of support options for future GOI investigations into the attack. (MG/Embassy New Delhi e-mail) INDIAN FORCES, ATTACKERS IN STANDOFF AT TWO HOTELS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Indian armed forces, including commandos, are engaged in ongoing operations to flush out terrorists at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels. ConGen Mumbai is in contact with five groups of people, including AmCits, trapped inside the Taj Mahal. An army spokesperson estimates 40-50 people remain inside the Taj Mahal; another 275-300 people remain inside the Oberoi. (Mumbai 545) ¶6. (U) According to media, there are six hostages of undetermined nationality in the Oberoi. (Reuters) ¶7. (U) Police said they had killed four gunmen and arrested nine suspects. They said 12 policemen were killed, including Hemant Karkare, the chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai. (Reuters) STATE 00125713 002 OF 002 ¶8. (SBU) The Indian Army has established checkpoints outside of Mumbai, causing delays entering the city. While commuter trains are running and the airport remains open, the army may institute a curfew throughout the city. (MG/ConGen Mumbai conference call) ¶9. (U) Minimize considered. RICE