Bombed in Bombay
March 12, 1993 - Series of explosions rips through Mumbai India.
15 year years ago today, beginning at 1:30 PM local time, a series of bombs exploded throughout the city Mumbai India (previously known as Bombay to English speakers). The bombings killed at least 317 people and injured over 1700 others.
The first bomb was detonated in the basement level parking garage of the new Bombay Stock Exchange building. 50 or more people were killed in this blast and the 28 story building suffered extensive damage as did neighboring buildings.
Twelve more blasts would rock the city during the next two hours. The other targets would include major shopping bazaars, several cinemas, the Passport office, and the headquarters of Air India, all attacked with car-bombs and motor scooters packed with plastic explosives. Three hotels would be shaken by suitcases filled with plastic explosives and left in rooms previously rented by the terrorists. At the airport, a barrage of grenades was hurled into the Sahar International terminal, and more grenades were used to attack the Hindu enclave of Fisherman's Colony. An attack on a double-decker bus would be the worst incident in terms of lives lost, as 90 people died in that explosion.
At first thought to be the work of Islamic militants in a continuation of Muslim verses Hindu violence, the investigation would reveal that the attacks were carried out by Dawood Ibrahim and D-Company, his crime syndicate, in retaliation for recent crack-downs on their operations. A total of 123 people would be arrested and charged in the bombings, 100 of them being convicted, the other 23 were acquitted. Those convicted in the bombings included bribed members of the police force, airport workers, and some high ranking customs officials, who aided the conspiracy by facilitating the importing of the explosives. Ibrahim escaped India, possibly fleeing to neighboring Pakistan, and has thus far eluded prosecution.
Quote for ToDay:
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." - Scott Adams
