Mumbai Terror Attacks: "Agencies Yet to Learn Hard Lessons'

By Animesh Roul

Originaly Published as 'Agencies yet to learn hard lessons' in Sunday MiD Day, Mumbai, 30-11-2008 FOR almost over sixty hours, Mumbai, the financial capital of India, witnessed a series of terrorist attacks, multiple hostage crisis, mindless killings, fierce gun battles...

India's Financial Hub Mumbai under Multiple Terror Attacks!

By Animesh Roul

Co-Editor's Note: See the "Newslinks" box for links to updated news on the attacks. ------- Suspected Islamic terrorists have attacked at least eight places in Mumbai, the financial hub of India on November 26 evening. They fired indiscriminately, and lobbed...

India: "The Resurgence of Ethno-Islamist Terrorism"

By Animesh Roul

I just wrote an article for the Jamestown Foundation’s Terrorism Monitor (Vol.6(22), Nov. 25, 2008) on the recent serial blasts in Assam (India) and the rise of Ethno-Islamist Terrorism in the region. Here is an excerpt: India's Troubled Northeast Region:...

Serial Blast in Northeast India: ULFA/HuJI Hand Suspected !

By Animesh Roul

Car bombs, strewn limbs, grimacing faces of survivors, mangled motor bikes, black smoke billowing from the grounds, all depicting an apocalyptic scenario in India’s northeastern state, Assam. In a most deadly attack ever perpetrated in Assam, terrorist have triggered over...

Islamic Terror Tentacles: Kerala Militants Fighting for Kashmir?

By Animesh Roul

The identification of at least four slain Kerala based militants in Jammu and Kashmir early this month raises some vital questions about Islam and terrorism in India: What inspired Muslim youths of Kerala to fight for a cause alien to...

Hizbut-Tahrir Bangladesh: Islamist Movement under Terror Scanner

By Animesh Roul

Lately though, Bangladesh authority have cracked down upon Islamist group Hizbut-Tahrir-Bangladesh (HT-B) and arrested 11 members, including Syed Golam Moula, Professor at the Dhaka University and HT’s coordinator and Ahmed Jamal Iqbal, Professor at the South East University. They were...

Serial Terror Blasts Strike Indian Capital, Indian Mujahedeen Claims Responsibility

By Animesh Roul

A series of explosions (at least six as per the latest inputs) have rocked Indian capital New Delhi within a span of half an hour on Saturday evening, (Sept. 13). The first explosion was reported in crowded Gaffar Market...

After Islamabad, its Karachi Now !

By Animesh Roul

After Sunday’s suicide blast in the capital Islamabad, now its Karachi’s turn to face terrorists' wrath. Monday evening, the port city of Karachi was rocked by a series of 8 low intensity blasts, which have killed at least two ,...

Suicide Attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul

By Animesh Roul

The death toll in the suicide bombing outside the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday (July 07) morning reached nearly 40 and counting, with more than 140 others, mostly civilians sustained injuries. The incident took place when an explosive laden...

Pakistan: Deadly Suicide Blast Marks Red Mosque Siege Anniversary

By Animesh Roul

A powerful suicide explosion near Melody Square in Islamabad has left nearly 20 people, including 10 security force personnel, dead and more than 40 people critically injured. The Sunday evening (July 06, 2008) blast occurred in front of Aabpara police...

Jaipur Serial Blasts: Investigations on, Sketches out, No breakthrough Yet !

By Animesh Roul

Investigations into the May 13 synchronized terror blasts that shook the pink city of Jaipur (Rajasthan, India) have reached ‘nowhere’ even after four days of the incident. Trailing the leads from the blast sites, eyewitness accounts and hoax calls/emails all...

India: Multiple Terror Blasts in Jaipur City, SIMI-HuJI-LeT Alliance Suspected!

By Animesh Roul

After brief period of quiescence, mass fatality terror has returned to India. And this time, as usual, it caught the security force, intelligence agencies napping. On May 13, around nine high to low intensity blasts took place at six places...

Pakistan, Taliban and Politics of Peace Accords!

By Animesh Roul

History is against any peace deals with the Taliban. At least three such initiatives (so called ‘peace deals’) had been signed with the Taliban in the past, only to be collapsed soon after. When Rehman Malik, adviser to Pakistan’s Prime...

India, Afghanistan: Price of Reconstruction

By Animesh Roul

Two Indian engineers were killed and at least five others injured in April 12 suicide attack in Nimroz province, located in southwestern Afghanistan when Taliban militants targeted the convoy of road construction workers involved in 218 km strategic Zaranj-Delaram highway...

SIMI and Islamist Threat Within: A Can of Jehadi Worm Got Exposed !

By Animesh Roul

During the last fortnight, the 'Student Islamic Movement of India' (SIMI), the radical outlawed Muslim student outfit, has received many setbacks when Madhya Pradesh State police have rounded up over 30 active cadres including its chief Safdar Nagori and Shibly...

Lahore (Pakistan) Suicide Blasts: Third in As Many Months in 2008!

By Animesh Roul

A twin suicide attack shook the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore, killing 31 people with more than 175 injured in both incidents. The truck bombs were targeted, almost simultaneously, at the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) building located at Temple Road...

Letter with Suspicious Powder (Anthrax?) Surfaces at Colombo Office, Advisory Issued by UNDSS

By Animesh Roul

The UN Department of Safety and Security (at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka) issued one advisory today (March 11) following the receipt of suspicious packages with powder substance at one of the government (possibly one of the UN agencies or...

Ricin Scare in Las Vegas: Facts and Fiction

By Animesh Roul

As the investigations into Las Vegas Ricin poisoning continue since last Friday, the mystery over two vials of poison found in the Von Bergendorff’s Motel room still haunts Police, FBI and U.S. Homeland Security agents. Police claimed to have found...

Darul Uloom, Deoband Termed Terror As 'Un-Islamic'

By Animesh Roul

The All-India anti-terrorism conclave held on February 25 by the famed Darul Uloom ( Deoband, India) seminary issued an edict denouncing all forms of terrorism as 'un-Islamic'. This edict received positive reactions from all section of Indian society, including political...

Darul Uloom in Deoband (India) Plans A Conclave to Raise Voice Against Radical Islam

By Animesh Roul

The famous (and otherwise) Darul Uloom, India’s premier madarsa (Islamic School/religious seminary) located in Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, will be hosting a National Conclave next week (Feb 25). Islamic scholars and representatives of at least 6,000 madarsas from all over...

Pakistan: Ballot and Bomb

By Animesh Roul

Fear of widespread violence has gripped Pakistan ahead of Feb 18 general election which will decide the fate of the country and its people. The parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for Jan 8, were postponed after the high profile assassination of...

Terror Threat to India in DNI Assessment: Too Little, Too General

By Animesh Roul

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell in his assessment very rightly warned his government on the terrorist threats and Al-Qaeda's growing capability inside the safe havens of Pakistan's tribal area. He was briefing the U.S. Select Senate Committee on...

Beslan Type Tragedy Averted in Northwest Pakistan

By Animesh Roul

Pakistan’s interior minister (caretaker) Hamid Nawaz informed media on Monday (Jan 28) that Islamic militants have taken over 250 schoolchildren hostage in Pakistan's northwestern district of Karak. Armed militants reportedly stormed into the school at Domail village, equipped with rocket...

Pakistan: 2008 Suicide Terror Season Begins!

By Animesh Roul

Nearly 20 people (and counting) have been killed and over 50 injured in a suicide attack near the Lahore High Court, Pakistan on January 10. The blast targeted security force personnel who were taking position in the area and putting...

Pakistan on the Brink: Assassination of Benezir Bhutto triggers widespread violence in Pakistan

By Animesh Roul

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a terror attack during a political rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Over 20 people killed and many more injured in this suicide attack. As per sources, the Pakistan People's Party...

NYT Revelation: Pakistan Diverting Chunks of Counter Terror Money Against India!

By Animesh Roul

Pakistan has been the largest recipient of Counter terror funds since 9/11. It’s Army has been receiving almost over USD 1 billion a year since 2002 under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) towards meeting the expenses incurred by Pakistan to...

High on Terror Alert: Mosque Demolition Haunts Delhi !

By Animesh Roul

The National Capital Region in India remains on high state of alert for the third day today. Security has been stepped up following Intelligence inputs on six Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia (HuJI) suspects who have reportedly sneaked into Delhi through the Loni...

Pakistan Amends Anti Terror Law Amid Fear of 'Territorial Disintegration'

By Animesh Roul

With prevalent chaotic political and security situation, Pakistan military government has amended the controversial Army Act of 1952. The amendment would allow military courts to prosecute anybody suspected of terrorist or subversive activity. It would also give a legal standing...

Why Pakistan Fails to Counter 'Suicide' Attacks?

By Animesh Roul

As the investigation into the Oct 18 Karachi blast continues, more terrorist strikes (e.g. Oct 20 Baluchistan car bomb blast and Oct 25 Swat blast), violent street protests and fatal shootouts came thick and fast to haunt Pakistan. Blame games...

Liquid Explosives: India Lacks Technology to Detect and Deter

By Animesh Roul

Al-Qaeda and affiliates have plotted and made use of Liquid Explosives (LE) since long. Ramzi Yousef had the design and intention to use LEs in mid 1990s and we have witnessed the actual and lethal use in July 2005 London...

Sri Lanka: Tigers Desperate, Triggered Air and Ground Raids

By Animesh Roul

As many as 20 LTTE rebels and around seven Sri Lankan security personnel reportedly got killed in a renewed Tiger-triggered offensive at the Anuradhapura military base in the north-central Sri Lanka on October 22. LTTE’s land force (Black Tiger team...

India on Terror Radar: No Room for Complacency and Sloppy Investigation Now!

By Animesh Roul

Two major terrorist attacks within span of three days caught India’s security agencies not only napping, but oblivious of such happenings in their backyards. Numerous terror alerts, arrests of suspects and publicized breakthroughs in past and ongoing investigations notwithstanding, terrorist...

Sluggish India-Pakistan Anti-Terror Mechanism

By Animesh Roul

Remember Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s high profile meeting and the promises at Havana (Cuba), on the sidelines of NAM (Non-Alignment Movement) summit in mid September 2006. One year has been passed since both leaders...

Bannu Suicide Blast: Lal Masjid Curse Continues in Pakistan

By Animesh Roul

Another deadly suicide attack in Pakistan killed at least 15 people along with four policemen on Monday, October 01. Around 20 people have been injured in the blast. The bomber in Burqa (Veil) triggered the blast when approached by police...

In the Name of God: Islamists Spearheaded Violence over Cartoon in Bangladesh

By Animesh Roul

Hundreds of Islamic hardliners including activists of Hizbut Tahrir, Islami Oikya Andolon, Chhatra Mukti Andolon, and Islami Shasantantra Andolon descended to the streets and later resorted to violence and arson to protest the publication of a cartoon that allegedly made...

Arrest of LTTE’s KP: Goof up or Cover up?

By Animesh Roul

Media broke the news about KP’s arrest in Bangkok on Sep 10 and later picked up by all news agencies around the world. Sri Lanka took a sigh of relief and India desperately wanted to take him home for a...

Pakistan: Pindi Explosions

By Animesh Roul

Two bomb blasts occurred in Rawalpindi on September 04 Morning, killed nearly 20 people and as many injured, mostly government employees working in defense departments. The first explosion hit a white-line bus in Qasim Bazzar area. The second blast (planted...

Hyderabad Terror Blasts Investigation: Sketch Released, Groping and Growling Continues

By Animesh Roul

Five days after the twin terror blasts in India’s southern city of Hyderabad, the investigating teams have released a sketch of the first suspect involved in the Lumbini Park incident. Police yet to sketch the second suspect involved in the...

India: Hyderabad Rocked Again with Terror Blasts

By Animesh Roul

Almost after three months, Hyderabad city (India) has been rocked again by twin explosions that occurred within a gap of fifteen minutes and reportedly killed over 30 people. The first explosion took place inside Lumbini Amusement Park where a laser...

On al-Qaida’s Influence and Presence in India

By Animesh Roul

On August 15 (Yesterday) I have a commentary published at Terrorism.openDemocracy (UK) on AQ’s desperate attempts, perceived influence and possible presence in India. The involvement of a number of Indians in the foiled UK terror plots of early July this...

Radical Mindset: Lawmakers, Fatwa and Jihad

By Animesh Roul

Two events that would shed some light on how far elected political leaders are influenced by the tenets of radical Islam, more than outlawed terrorists in the subcontinent and they act with such impunity only to get away with their...

Al Qaeda Issues Warning to America (and others) with an American Accent !

By Animesh Roul

Another chilling video from Qaeda production house Al Sahab reportedly warned India, Israel, Russia and of course the United States. This one hour long terror docu-drama came within a week after Abu Yahya al-Libi’s call for overthrowing Pakistan President Pervez...

Pakistan: Another Mosque Painted Red, Islamic Revolution Feared

By Animesh Roul

Embattled Cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz recently said “There are many Ghazis (His brother and Deputy who was killed during Op Silence at Red Mosque) living to be martyred” […] "God willing, Pakistan will have an Islamic revolution soon." To predict...

Pakistan: Revenge Attacks on Chinese Nationals and Security Personnel

By Animesh Roul

It is rightly observed that Pakistan is on the brink of precipice. In Pakistan, Chinese nationals, security forces and Musharraf regime, all are in an Islamist terror mess, especially after the fall of Red Mosque early this month. Wave of...

Discourse on Suicide Terrorism: A Must Read

By Animesh Roul

As I was thinking to post couple of latest reading materials on Suicide Terrorism here at CTB, reports of suicide attacks in Iarq, Pakistan and Algeria came thick and fast. On July 11, Iraqi town Garmah (near Fallujha) witnessed suicide...

Mumbai Train Blasts: Masterminds Still At Large, Question Marks Remain!

By Animesh Roul

A year after Mumbai commuter train blasts that rocked the country’s commercial capital on July 11, 2006, the suspected masterminds –Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Azam Cheema and three other Pakistani accomplices– are still at large. The anti terrorist squad of Mumbai...

Operation Lal Deen: Rising at Pakistan’s Red Mosque

By Animesh Roul

The battle between Pakistani soldiers and radical elements in pro Taliban Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) has erupted on July 3 (Tuesday) and a full fledged military operation (code named Operation Silence) is currently underway in Pakistan capital Islamabad. Though conflicting...

Sniper Fear Triggered by HuJI Operatives in India

By Animesh Roul

Innovation is the key for everyone to survive in a competitive environment. But terrorists want to excel in what they think, where to hit and how they plan to carry out, much ahead of security agencies. Trends show that terrorists...

ULFA’s Killing Spree Continues in Northeast India

By Animesh Roul

Four blasts, four deaths and over fifty injured. Now this has become order of the day in Assam. Suspected ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) militants once again triggered powerful bomb blasts within a short span of time in busy...

Assam: ULFA Mayhem Continues Despite Government's Peace Overtures

By Animesh Roul

In the face of continued military crackdown and counter insurgency operations, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has once again succeeded in perpetrating mayhem in violence-hit Northeast Indian state of Assam. On June 23 morning, suspected ULFA militants triggered...

Al-Qaeda’s Shadowy Presence in India?

By Animesh Roul

Once again, suspected Al Qaeda commanders claimed its presence in India, declaring jihad (Holy War) against the country and Kashmir as the gateway of Jihad against India’ for the first time ever. In a video message, [received by a Jammu...

Jammu and Kashmir: Cross-Border Terror Intensifies

By Animesh Roul

Impressions have been created that the terror infiltration from across the border is diminishing and outfits operating from Pakistan are having a change of heart and mind. This has become a major excuse for the political parties in India (also...

Agro-terrorism Issue Gets Media Attention in India

By Animesh Roul

There is an interesting article, “Micro Terror” in this week’s Outlook Magazine (June 11, 2007, New Delhi) which largely focuses on the agricultural bio terrorism and discusses how India can be an easy target for bio-terrorism with virtually no quarantine...

Terror Trail: What's Next After Hyderabad and Gorakhpur?

By Animesh Roul

Four days after Mecca Mosque blast, terrorists struck Gorakhapur town (bordering Nepal) in Uttar Pradesh (India) on May 22 (Tuesday evening) with triple blasts of low intensities. The bomblets kept in metallic launch boxes and placed in cycle/motor bike, went...

Another Black Friday: A Post Mortem of the Mecca Mosque Blast in Hyderabad, India

By Animesh Roul

Eleven people have been killed and more than 50 others injured in a bomb explosion inside Mecca Mosque located near the historic Charminar in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh, INDIA) on May 18 (Friday) 2007. Subsequent to the blast, a mob fury...

Peshawar Hotel Blast Rocks Volatile Pakistan

By Animesh Roul

Over twenty people got killed and around 30 people have been injured when a powerful bomb explosion (suicide blast) took place inside a hotel in Peshawar, provincial capital of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA)....

Islam and Suicide Terrorism in Pakistan

By Animesh Roul

After five long years of advent of suicide terrorism in Pakistan (a recent estimate indicated about around 30 suicide bombing incidents with well above 160 fatalities have taken place since 2002), suddenly the erstwhile supporters/believers (somehow tacitly) of suicide (Fidayeen)...

Terror and Internet: Mapping Online Jihad

By Animesh Roul

Of late, there is a spurt of literatures regarding the threat of ‘online Jihad’ (threat about the use of internet web space in fueling, fostering Jihadi terrorism). Terrorist organizations and their sympathizers do maintain Web sites taking advantage of the...

LTTE's Tamil Eelam Air Force (TAF): Setting A Dangerous Precedent

By Animesh Roul

Undoubtedly, the recent developments make the Tamil militant group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the first militant outfit in the world to have an effective air force. Now after three successful aerial attacks on Sri Lanka government infrastructures, LTTE...

Bangladesh: Terror Deja Vu !

By Animesh Roul

A day after three bombs exploded almost simultaneously in three railway stations on May 01, Bangladesh security forces put on a state of high alert across the country. The blasts that went off at Dhaka's Kamalapur station, Northeastern Sylhet station...

Reminiscing A Bloody Weekend in the Subcontinent

By Animesh Roul

This Saturday (April 28) evening, when I glanced through the Breaking News tickers rolling on a local television channel, I found two news items clearly conveying the situation prevalent in the Subcontinent, especially in India and Pakistan, almost simultaneously. While...

Now China Points Finger at Pakistan on Terror Camps!

By Animesh Roul

After sentencing a Canadian citizen, Huseyin Celil for allegedly participating in separatist and terrorist activities in western Xinjiang province, China took another surprising dig at long time ally Pakistan. China reportedly said that East Turkestan (Uyghur) Islamic terrorists operating on...

Islamic Militant Kicks off Revenge Killing in Bangladesh

By Animesh Roul

Suspected Islamic militants have gunned down a senior government lawyer Hyder Hossain, who was conducted the case of the two Jhalakathi judges' killing by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen militants and instrumental in bringing six top JMB militants, including JMB chief Abdur Rahman and...

Bangladesh Executes JMB Militants Ahead of Schedule

By Animesh Roul

After months of speculation, Bangladesh authority has reportedly executed six Jama’atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) militants in the early hours of March 30 (Friday). The six militants - Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam, Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, Ataur Rahman Sunny and...

Preventing Bio-terror Threat: India Moves A Step Ahead Cautiously

By Animesh Roul

Of late, Indian government wakes up to biological weapon related threats and approves a model of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to thwart any bio-terror attacks. Although the discourse on public health and infectious disease gained ground in the region especially...

Bangladesh: Thousands of Militants on the Prowl and on Jama'atul Mujahideen Payroll!

By Animesh Roul

In a startling revelation, a top ranking military commander of the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Mostafizur Rahman Shahin confessed during interrogation that about 5,000 cadres on monthly remuneration are operative across the country. Shahin also mentioned that the money for the...

LTTE Infiltration in South India

By Animesh Roul

Following the February 13 interception of an explosive-laden boat (with a 7 kg suicide jacket, detonators, five hand grenades, one AK-56 rifle with over hundred rounds of ammunition and liquid chemicals) belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)...

Indo-Pak Anti-Terrorism Mechanism Meets - Concludes with A Joint Statement Only!

By Animesh Roul

The first ever meeting of the Indo-Pak joint anti-terror mechanism (ATM) has ended in Islamabad on March 07. Although both countries agreed to exchange information to help investigations relating to terrorist acts and to prevent violence, the meeting achieved very...