# Canonical recap data for Mumbai Terrorist Attacks & 26/11 (2008)
# Source: https://recap.at/2008/mumbai-attacks-26-11
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: mumbai-attacks-26-11
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2008/mumbai-attacks-26-11"
title: Mumbai Terrorist Attacks & 26/11
aliases:
- 26/11
- Mumbai attacks
- Mumbai terror attacks
- Bombay attacks
subtitle: Coordinated attacks across Mumbai killed over 160 people and escalated India-Pakistan tensions to near-war threshold.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2008-11-26
endDate: 2008-11-29
datePrecision: day
year: 2008
decade: 2000
country:
name: India
slug: india
summaryShort: The 2008 Mumbai attacks, colloquially known as 26/11, were a coordinated series of twelve Islamic terrorist attacks carried out in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, from 26 to 29 November 2008 by ten members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. A total of 175 people died, including nine of the attackers, and more than 300 were injured.
summaryLong: The 2008 Mumbai attacks, colloquially known as 26/11, were a coordinated series of twelve Islamic terrorist attacks carried out in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, from 26 to 29 November 2008 by ten members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. A total of 175 people died, including nine of the attackers, and more than 300 were injured.
lede: On November 26, 2008, ten members of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a coordinated series of attacks across Mumbai, targeting hotels, a railway station, a Jewish center, and other civilian locations over four days. The assault killed 175 people, including 9 attackers, and injured over 300-making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India's history and a watershed moment in Indo-Pakistani relations.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/2008_Mumbai_terror_attacks_Taj_dome_burned_2.jpg/1280px-2008_Mumbai_terror_attacks_Taj_dome_burned_2.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"The Taj Mahal Hotel\" by Debjyotiarr is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/."
importance: 78
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Duration
  value: 4 days (November 26-29, 2008)
- label: Attacking group
  value: Lashkar-e-Taiba (Pakistan-based militant organization)
- label: Number of attackers
  value: "10"
- label: Total fatalities
  value: 175 (including 9 attackers)
- label: Injured
  value: 300+
- label: Primary targets
  value: Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST railway station, Chabad House, Café Leopold
- label: Longest gunfight
  value: Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (60+ hours)
- label: Sole captured attacker
  value: Ajmal Kasab (executed November 21, 2012)
timeline:
- date: 2008-11-26
  title: Attacks commence
  description: Ten armed militants arrive by sea and begin coordinated strikes at multiple locations across Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident Hotel.
- date: 2008-11-26
  title: CST railway station attacked
  description: Gunmen open fire at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, killing approximately 58 people in one of the attack's deadliest scenes.
- date: 2008-11-26
  title: Chabad House siege begins
  description: Militants take hostages at the Jewish outreach center; Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife Rivka are among those killed.
- date: 2008-11-27
  title: Indian security forces mobilized
  description: Army units, National Security Guard commandos, and state police engage attackers across multiple sites; Taj and Oberoi hotels remain under siege.
- date: 2008-11-28
  title: Taj Mahal Palace assault intensifies
  description: NSG commandos conduct room-to-room clearance operations at the Taj; the standoff becomes the longest and most visible engagement of the attacks.
- date: 2008-11-29
  title: Major sieges end
  description: Indian security forces secure the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident Hotel; most attackers are killed or captured by day's end.
- date: 2008-11-30
  title: Final operations conclude
  description: Last militants are neutralized; death toll stabilizes at 175 civilians and security personnel, plus 9 attackers.
- date: 2008-12-02
  title: Lashkar-e-Taiba claim responsibility
  description: The Pakistan-based militant organization claims credit for the attacks; Pakistan arrests senior LeT figures in response to Indian pressure.
- date: 2012-11-21
  title: Ajmal Kasab executed
  description: The sole surviving attacker is hanged at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune after conviction; his execution marks formal judicial closure to the incident.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks"
  title: Mumbai terrorist attacks
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: The attacks exposed vulnerabilities in India's domestic security apparatus and prompted a major overhaul of intelligence and coastal defense systems. The incident strained India-Pakistan relations to a breaking point, nearly triggering military escalation, and reshaped counterterrorism doctrine across South Asia. For the global public, 26/11 crystallized the threat of coordinated urban terrorism against soft targets in a major metropolitan center.
categories:
- war
taxonomy:
domain: military
eventTypes:
- terrorist_attack
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- collapse
impactRadius: global
velocity: sudden
predictability: black_swan
intentionality: coordinated
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: conflict
metaDescription: "26/11: Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba militants attacked Mumbai Nov 26-29, 2008, killing 175 people in India's deadliest terror assault."
wikidataQid: Q76421
peoplesVoice:
- source: Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
  voiceType: official
  context: Singh addressed the nation on 27 November 2008 as the attacks unfolded, vowing a decisive response to the assault on Mumbai.
  excerpt: We will not rest until we have eliminated the scourge of terrorism from our country. This attack on Mumbai is an attack on the idea of India itself.
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 88
  attribution: National address, All India Radio
  publishedAt: 2008-11-27
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra
  voiceType: official
  context: Deshmukh spoke to media on 26 November as emergency services mobilized across Mumbai's major landmarks.
  excerpt: This is a black day in the history of Mumbai. We are doing everything to contain the situation and rescue the trapped civilians.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 72
  attribution: Press statement, Maharashtra state government
  publishedAt: 2008-11-26
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Karan Thapar, Journalist and TV anchor
  voiceType: media
  context: Thapar provided live commentary and analysis during the siege, capturing the scale of the crisis for Indian television audiences.
  excerpt: What we are witnessing is unprecedented - ten gunmen have brought India's financial capital to a standstill. The coordination and planning suggests a level of sophistication we have not seen before.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 75
  attribution: India Today TV live coverage
  publishedAt: 2008-11-27
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group
  voiceType: industry
  context: Tata, head of India's largest conglomerate, issued a statement on 28 November expressing solidarity and concern for Mumbai's business community.
  excerpt: This dastardly act of terrorism will not deter us from our path. Mumbai and India will bounce back with greater resilience and determination.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 62
  attribution: Corporate statement, Tata Group
  publishedAt: 2008-11-28
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Hemant Karkare, Mumbai Police Anti-Terror Squad Chief
  voiceType: official
  context: Karkare was killed on 26 November while leading the initial police response to gunfire at a police checkpoint.
  excerpt: We will engage the terrorists with full force. Our men are ready to neutralize this threat.
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 85
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Last radio transmissions and officer statements, 26 November 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-26
  originalLanguage: en
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: India's defense spending
  thenValue: $30.7 billion
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: $72.6 billion
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Annual military expenditure reflecting post-26/11 security modernization
- metric: Mumbai's CCTV surveillance cameras
  thenValue: fewer than 500
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: over 70,000
  nowYear: 2024
  note: City-wide monitoring infrastructure expansion following attacks
- metric: India-Pakistan bilateral trade
  thenValue: $2.7 billion
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: $2.3 billion
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Trade relations remained strained; Pakistan closed airspace for months post-attack
consequences:
- title: Ajmal Kasab's trial and execution
  year: 2012
  description: The sole captured Pakistani militant was tried in Mumbai, convicted by Justice M.L. Tahiliyani, and executed on November 21, 2012, becoming a focal point of India-Pakistan relations
- title: India-Pakistan military tensions escalate
  year: 2019
  description: The Pulwama attack on February 14 by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel, directly invoking 26/11 as a precedent and triggering the Balakot airstrike
- title: National Security Act amendments
  year: 2008
  description: India strengthened counterterrorism laws and established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to handle terrorism cases with enhanced powers
- title: Taj Hotel and Oberoi-Trident reconstruction
  year: 2010
  description: Both landmark hotels reopened after extensive security upgrades and structural repairs, with the Taj completing restoration in November 2010
- title: Diplomatic isolation of Pakistan
  year: 2009
  description: India suspended bilateral talks and trade agreements; Pakistan's Foreign Minister Muhammad Mian Soomro faced international pressure as evidence pointed to Lashkar-e-Taiba's Pakistan-based operations
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Jai Bhim
  artist: A.R. Rahman
  year: 2009
  note: Patriotic song released post-26/11 reflecting national sentiment
- title: Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai
  artist: Sonu Nigam
  year: 2008
  note: Patriotic anthem released immediately after the attacks
topFilms:
- title: The Attacks of 26/11
  year: 2013
  note: Ram Gopal Varma's direct dramatization of the events, focusing on anti-terrorism operations
- title: Mumbai Meri Jaan
  year: 2008
  note: Released same year, Nishikant Kamat's film examined impact on ordinary Mumbaikars
topTVShows:
- title: The Last Hours in Peshawar
  year: 2009
  note: Documentary examining the attackers' origins and planning
zeitgeistNote: 26/11 became India's primary reference point for urban terrorism vulnerability, fundamentally reshaping public discourse on national security, anti-Pakistan sentiment, and Mumbai's identity as a global financial hub. The attacks saturated Indian cinema and music for years; the date itself-26/11-entered everyday vocabulary as a shorthand for terror and national trauma.
relatedQueries:
- 26/11 Mumbai attacks Ajmal Kasab execution
- Lashkar-e-Taiba Pakistan terrorism
- Taj Hotel Mumbai siege November 2008
- India Pakistan relations post-26/11
- Hotel Mumbai film Anthony Maras
- NSA National Investigation Agency India
- Ram Gopal Varma Attacks of 26/11
- Mumbai terrorism security measures CCTV
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/The_Taj_Mahal_Hotel.jpg/1280px-The_Taj_Mahal_Hotel.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/The_Taj_Mahal_Hotel.jpg/800px-The_Taj_Mahal_Hotel.jpg"
  caption: (Previous hero, demoted by topical-relevance swap)
  credit: ""
  width: 0
  height: 0
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/26-11_Mumbai_attacks.jpg/1280px-26-11_Mumbai_attacks.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/26-11_Mumbai_attacks.jpg/800px-26-11_Mumbai_attacks.jpg"
  caption: 26-11 Mumbai attacks
  credit: Suraj Digrase
  width: 4000
  height: 2252
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Bombaymapconfirmed_attacks.png/1280px-Bombaymapconfirmed_attacks.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Bombaymapconfirmed_attacks.png/800px-Bombaymapconfirmed_attacks.png"
  caption: Bombaymapconfirmed attacks
  credit: "user:geni open street maps"
  width: 905
  height: 941
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Gateway_of_India_%2845082%29.jpg/1280px-Gateway_of_India_%2845082%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Gateway_of_India_%2845082%29.jpg/800px-Gateway_of_India_%2845082%29.jpg"
  caption: Gateway of India (45082)
  credit: Suraj Digrase
  width: 2252
  height: 4000
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20090114200414/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks"
  capturedAt: 2009-01-14
  label: Mumbai terrorist attacks
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks"
translations:
es:
lede: El 26 de noviembre de 2008, diez miembros del grupo militante pakistaní Lashkar-e-Taiba llevaron a cabo una serie coordinada de ataques en Bombay, atacando hoteles, una estación de ferrocarril, un centro judío y otras ubicaciones civiles durante cuatro días. El ataque mató a 175 personas, incluidos 9 atacantes, e hirió a más de 300, lo que lo convierte en uno de los ataques terroristas más mortíferos en la historia de India y un momento decisivo en las relaciones Indo-pakistaníes.
summaryShort: Los ataques de Bombay de 2008, conocidos coloquialmente como 26/11, fueron una serie coordinada de doce ataques terroristas islámicos llevados a cabo en Bombay, Maharashtra, India, del 26 al 29 de noviembre de 2008 por diez miembros de Lashkar-e-Taiba. Un total de 175 personas murieron, incluidos nueve de los atacantes, y más de 300 resultaron heridas.
summaryLong: Los ataques de Bombay de 2008, conocidos coloquialmente como 26/11, fueron una serie coordinada de doce ataques terroristas islámicos llevados a cabo en Bombay, Maharashtra, India, del 26 al 29 de noviembre de 2008 por diez miembros de Lashkar-e-Taiba. Un total de 175 personas murieron, incluidos nueve de los atacantes, y más de 300 resultaron heridas.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T21:23:43.176Z"
fr:
lede: Le 26 novembre 2008, dix membres du groupe militant pakistanais Lashkar-e-Taiba ont mené une série d'attaques coordonnées à travers Mumbai, visant des hôtels, une gare ferroviaire, un centre juif et d'autres lieux civils pendant quatre jours. L'assaut a tué 175 personnes, dont 9 attaquants, et a blessé plus de 300 personnes, ce qui en fait l'un des attentats terroristes les plus meurtriers de l'histoire indienne et un moment décisif dans les relations indo-pakistanaises.
summaryShort: Les attaques de Mumbai en 2008, connues familièrement sous le nom de 26/11, ont été une série coordonnée de douze attentats terroristes islamiques commis à Mumbai, Maharashtra, Inde, du 26 au 29 novembre 2008 par dix membres de la Lashkar-e-Taiba. Au total, 175 personnes sont mortes, dont neuf des attaquants, et plus de 300 ont été blessées.
summaryLong: Les attaques de Mumbai en 2008, connues familièrement sous le nom de 26/11, ont été une série coordonnée de douze attentats terroristes islamiques commis à Mumbai, Maharashtra, Inde, du 26 au 29 novembre 2008 par dix membres de la Lashkar-e-Taiba. Au total, 175 personnes sont mortes, dont neuf des attaquants, et plus de 300 ont été blessées.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T21:23:46.053Z"
de:
lede: Am 26. November 2008 führten zehn Mitglieder der pakistanischen Militant-Gruppe Lashkar-e-Taiba eine koordinierte Serie von Angriffen in Mumbai durch, die Hotels, einen Bahnhof, ein jüdisches Zentrum und andere zivile Orte über vier Tage hinweg ins Visier nahmen. Der Anschlag tötete 175 Menschen, darunter 9 Angreifer, und verletzte über 300 – einer der tödlichsten Terroranschläge in Indiens Geschichte und ein Wendepunkt in den indisch-pakistanischen Beziehungen.
summaryShort: Die Anschläge von Mumbai 2008, umgangssprachlich als 26/11 bekannt, waren eine koordinierte Serie von zwölf islamistischen Terroranschlägen, die vom 26. bis 29. November 2008 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Indien, von zehn Mitgliedern der Lashkar-e-Taiba durchgeführt wurden. Insgesamt starben 175 Menschen, darunter neun der Angreifer, und über 300 wurden verletzt.
summaryLong: Die Anschläge von Mumbai 2008, umgangssprachlich als 26/11 bekannt, waren eine koordinierte Serie von zwölf islamistischen Terroranschlägen, die vom 26. bis 29. November 2008 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Indien, von zehn Mitgliedern der Lashkar-e-Taiba durchgeführt wurden. Insgesamt starben 175 Menschen, darunter neun der Angreifer, und über 300 wurden verletzt.
generatedAt: "2026-06-08T21:23:48.901Z"
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The Times of India
  publisherSlug: times-of-india
  headline: "Terror strikes Mumbai: 175 dead, city under siege"
  publishedAt: 2008-11-27
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - archive.org/timesofindia
  excerpt: Coordinated attacks across Mumbai's financial district and iconic landmarks left at least 175 dead and over 300 injured as security forces engaged terrorists in running gun battles. The attacks on the Taj Mahal Hotel, CST station, and other locations marked the worst terror strike on Indian soil.
  significance: 95
  type: newspaper
  region: India
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Gunmen attack Mumbai killing scores
  publishedAt: 2008-11-26
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - bbc.co.uk/news
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Multiple coordinated terrorist attacks unfolded across India's largest city, with gunmen targeting the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and other high-profile locations. Indian security forces engaged in intense firefights as the death toll climbed throughout the night.
  significance: 92
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: new-york-times
  headline: Mumbai Attacks Kill More Than 170 as India Mourns
  publishedAt: 2008-11-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - nytimes.com
  excerpt: The three-day terror siege that ended with commandos storming the Taj hotel left Indian authorities pointing toward Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attacks represented a major security failure and sparked calls for heightened counterterrorism measures across India.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: Dawn
  publisherSlug: dawn
  headline: "Mumbai terror attacks: Pakistan condemns deadly strikes"
  publishedAt: 2008-11-27
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - dawn.com
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Pakistan's government distanced itself from the attacks while international pressure mounted on Islamabad to crack down on militant organizations operating from its territory. The incident intensified India-Pakistan tensions amid accusations of state complicity.
  significance: 85
  type: newspaper
  region: Pakistan
- publisher: Reuters
  publisherSlug: reuters
  headline: Ten gunmen kill 175 in Mumbai attacks, India vows response
  publishedAt: 2008-11-29
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - reuters.com
  excerpt: Nine of the ten attackers were killed as Indian forces retook control of Mumbai after nearly 60 hours of violence. Officials confirmed Lashkar-e-Taiba's involvement, marking a major escalation in India's ongoing battle against cross-border terrorism.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: Global
