From November 26 through November 29, 2008, an ongoing and coordinated terrorist attack took place in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. According to news reports, the intended victims of these attacks were ordinary Mumbaikars as well as U.S. citizens, Britons, and Jews. The attacks were executed in the heart of India’s financial capital and a top Indian tourist destination.

Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment center of India and one of the top 10 centers of global financial commerce in the world. It is India’s largest city and one of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas.

Ten armed terrorists using automatic weapons and grenades carried out the attacks. The attackers entered Mumbai from the Arabian Sea by speedboats that were onboard trawlers, coming ashore at two locations in Colaba. At this point, the terrorists split into their attack formations and went in different directions. The first reported attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. on November 26 at the Cafe Leopold, a popular tourist restaurant in Colaba.