Accused accomplice of terrorist attacks in Mumbai arrived in India

Accused accomplice of terrorist attacks in Mumbai arrived in India

A suspect accused of facilitating the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attacks has been arrested by the United States India extradited. This came 17 years after the country was rocked by one of the worst tragedies in its history.

The extradition of the suspect

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, landed in New Delhi on Thursday. This was confirmed by two police officers who were informed of his movements. Rana is being tried in India after the US agreed to his extradition, which came after years of legal wrangling over the case.

The attacks in Mumbai

Indian authorities accuse Rana of being involved in the conspiracy that led to one of the bloodiest attacks in India's history, in which 10 Pakistani men linked to the terror group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba killed more than 160 people during four days of violence in Mumbai. This began on November 26, 2008 and is known as India's 9/11.

The course of the attacks

The attackers traveled by boat from the Pakistani port city of Karachi to Mumbai, hijacked a fishing trawler and killed its five crew members. According to police, they docked on the shore near the iconic Gateway of India and divided into at least three groups to carry out the attacks.

Armed with automatic weapons and grenades, they targeted the city's largest train station, the luxury Taj Mahal Palace hotel, as well as the Oberoi Trident Hotels, the popular Leopold Restaurant, a Jewish community center and a hospital.

Nine of the ten terrorists were shot dead by police during a chase through the city. The only surviving assassin, Ajmal Kasab, was executed in 2012.

The accusation against Rana

Rana, who was living in the US at the time, is accused by New Delhi of colluding with the terrorists and providing them with the necessary information to carry out their attack. He had previously denied similar allegations in a US court.

The Federal Crime Agency of India has filed several charges against Rana, including attempts to wage war, murder and forgery. If found guilty, the 64-year-old could face the death penalty.

Government statements and legal developments

On Thursday, the country's National Investigation Agency confirmed Rana's extradition, saying in a statement that he was sent to the United States after exhausting all legal options to avoid extradition.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Rana will be “fairly held accountable” for his role in the “horrific” Mumbai terror attacks. In a statement on Friday, Rubio emphasized: "The United States has long supported India's efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks. As President Trump has said, the United States and India will continue to work together to stop the global evil of terrorism."

Previous convictions and prison sentences

In 2011, a US court acquitted Rana of conspiring to provide material to support the Mumbai attackers, but found him guilty of two other charges, including providing material support to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. He was serving a 14-year sentence in a Los Angeles prison when his extradition was approved earlier this week.

India's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the US Supreme Court had rejected Rana's request for an injunction against his extradition, but did not respond to further questions about the case.

Reporting by CNN's Kylie Atwood.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the date of the Mumbai attacks.