India: 20 Recruited With Mumbai Gunmen at Large

Police release names, planning details

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 9, 2008 3:56 PM CST

(Newser) – Indian police say the 10 Mumbai attackers were among 30 recruits selected for suicide missions—and they don’t know the whereabouts of the rest. There was no indication that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were in India, but the police commissioner says news that others were willing to die—provided by the surviving attacker—was “very disturbing,” reports the New York Times.

Officials also released photos and new details on the weaponry used in last month’s attacks. The recruits received highly specialized training, including marine combat skills, the attacker told police. The 10 who were selected for Mumbai were segregated from others, kept in a house for 3 months, and given target information they kept secret from each other. They never saw the 20 others again.

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An armed policeman stands guard as Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Mumbai today. (AP Photo)

The lone gunman to survive the Mumbai siege says there were 20 others recruited along with him and the nine other attackers. (AP Photo/Mumbai Mirror, Sebastian D'souza, File)

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Another 20 were ready to die. This is the very disturbing part of it. - Deven Bharti, a Mumbai Police
deputy commissioner

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India: 20 Recruited With Mumbai Gunmen at Large