At least 180 people were killed and 700 injured in a co-ordinated series of bomb blasts in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). The attack targetted Mumbai's railway stations during rush hour.

The attack comes just over one year after a similar atrocity took place on London's underground train network on 7th July 2006. The attack in Mumbai was even more deadly, being eerily reminiscent of the worst terrorist attack ever to have hit Indian soil, when 13 co-ordinated bomb-blasts killed 257 people in Mumbai on 12th March 1993.

Indian officials are searching for three suspects who have been named in connection with the bombings. The government's Anti-Terror Squad released photos of Sayyad Zabiuddin and Zulfeqar Fayyaz, two young men, whose nationality is not yet clear. A third suspect, known only as 'Rahil' was named by Mumbai Police Commissioner A. N. Roy on Friday.

Intelligence sources are linking a group named 'Lakshar-e-Tyabba' to the attack, although evidence is not yet conclusive.

Togetherness in times of trouble

Many tales of togetherness and generosity have emerged in the wake of the atrocity in Mumbai. Hundreds of thousands of people found themselves walking home along the tracks. The always-crowded streets became grid locked. But there were countless examples of householders and shopkeepers giving food and water to weary and delayed travellers. There was a determination to soldier on and help each other that cut across religious divides, which no doubt the terrorists wanted to provoke and exploit.

Fed-up

There was also a growing sense of frustration and helplessness with the frequency and magnitude with which terrorist attacks have been occurring in India.

"Everybody keeps saying we are going to defeat terrorism and won't let terrorists win. After a few weeks they forget about an attack, and a couple of months later, another big attack will happen. The truth is, we are impotent in the face of terror," said Neil Patel, a resident of Mumbai.

Another Mumbai resident, Nanaji Apte blamed the current government for going soft on terrorism: "Our government claim they want to fight terrorism, but then they go and reverse the anti-terrorism law, POTA, and even facilitate the entry of Pakistani nationals into our country. The whole thing is a joke at India's expense. Unfortunately hundreds of people are dying due to their joke."

India's terrorist problems

India has been on the receiving end of the most hideous terrorist attacks for over 20 years. Most of the largest attacks are attributed to Islamic separatists who are trying to wrest Jammu and Kashmir from India. However, there are also other groups that have been carrying out terrorist attacks against India, including communist guerrillas and separatists in India's Northeastern states (such as Assam, Tripura and Nagaland).

Recent terrorist attacks in India

29 October 2005 - 66 killed by bomb-blasts in Delhi, which were very close to the festival of Diwali

7 March 2006 - 22 killed in a series of three bomb blasts that hit the Hindu holy-city of Varanasi.

1-2 May 2006 - 35 killed in a series of attacks targeting the Hindu minority in Jammu and Kashmir.

11 July 2006 - At least 200 killed in eight-bomb blasts target busy railways of Mumbai, India's financial capital.

14 July 2006 - 4 Hindus gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir.