VZCZCXRO7834
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHBI #1307/01 1941251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 131251Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL MUMBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4048
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5334
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 8812
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 1149
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1057
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0608
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0032
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0100
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0215
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0504
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0600
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0054
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0611
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUMBAI 001307 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CT, SCA/INS, OPS CENTER, DS, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SCA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER KISL PGOV PREL ASEC CASC IN
SUBJECT: MUMBAI REMAINS CALM AS POLICE DETAIN HUNDREDS IN CONNECTION 
WITH BOMBINGS 
 
REF: A) MUMBAI 1302, B) MUMBAI 1293, C) MUMBAI 890 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U) Nearly 48 hours after bombs exploded aboard seven trains 
traveling Mumbai's western commuter railway line, casualty 
figures continue to rise, varying between 200 and 186 depending 
on the source.  The number injured has also increased to 772. 
There have been no reports of Amcit deaths or injuries to date, 
however.  A Consulate FSN was in one of the train compartments 
that got hit but received only minor injuries.  Police are 
investigating possible leads but are not yet prepared to 
officially name suspects, we were told, but unofficially, police 
told us they continue to suspect Lakshar-e-Toiba (LeT) 
involvement, based upon the sophistication and planning 
required.  Police reportedly detained over 300 persons, mostly 
Muslims, for questioning in connection with the bombings. 
Forensic analysis of the seven bombed train compartments, and 
items recovered within, are still ongoing, as police sort out 
whether RDX linked to recent explosives seizures in Aurangabad 
was employed.  There are no reports of reprisals against the 
city's Muslim community to date and public blaming of local 
Muslim's continues to be avoided.  A citywide protest denouncing 
terrorism, however, was allegedly planned for July 13, but 
called off, our contacts told us.  Otherwise, life in Mumbai is 
relatively normal, the city is open for business, and market 
trading seems unaffected by the terrorist attacks.  End summary. 
 
Casualty Update 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (U) As of 1500 hours local, July 13 - and nearly 48 hours 
after bombs exploded aboard seven trains traveling Mumbai's 
western commuter railway line - casualty figures continue to 
rise, varying between 200 and 186 depending on the source.  The 
number injured has also increased to 772.  There have been no 
reports of Amcit deaths or injuries to date, but Post will 
continue to investigate this possibility with local hospitals. 
To repeat, Post experienced no casualties, American or otherwise 
(refs A, B).  One FSN was in a train compartment that got hit 
but received only minor injuries. See para 4 for his account of 
the explosion. 
 
Bombing Investigation Continues 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) In a July 12 conversation with the Deputy Commissioner 
of Mumbai Police, the Consul General was told that police are 
investigating possible leads but are not yet prepared to 
officially name suspects.  However, the media reports that the 
police continue to strongly suspect Lakshar-e-Toiba (LeT) 
involvement in the attacks, based upon the sophistication and 
planning required.  In discussions with an RSO FSN investigator, 
working level police contacts confirmed the media reports that 
alleged LeT and Students Islamic Movement of India members 
Zabiuddin Ansari and Mohammed Faiyaz are prime suspects.  Ansari 
may be the same individual identified in ref C as wanted in 
connection with weapons and explosives recovered in Aurangabad. 
Police also believe some level of local assistance was provided 
and have taken over 300 individuals into custody.  Post contacts 
confirm that 148 people were arrested in the predominantly 
Muslim neighborhood of Malad.  Of these 15 were detained.  This 
also led to 4 arrests in Mumbai's Bhayendar neighborhood, the 
location of one bombing.  Local media also reported that four 
Pakistanis were detained in Kathmandu, Nepal, in connection with 
the bombings. 
 
¶4.  (U) Forensic analysis of the seven bombed train 
compartments, and items recovered within, are still ongoing, but 
that has not stopped wide speculation as to the material and 
detonators used.  The attackers, it is contended, used either 
RDX or gelatin sticks, with either pencil timers or radio 
controlled detonators.  Post contacts in the police claim that 
RDX with mobile phone timers was used but this may be a 
premature assessment.  According to a Consulate FSN employee who 
rode within one bombed train compartment, whatever explosive was 
 
MUMBAI 00001307  002 OF 002 
 
 
used created a bright "yellow" flash accompanied by deafening 
noise.  Following the explosion, there was "fire" but little 
heat and the compartment filled with "acrid and sour" smoke that 
smelled like "fireworks".  Passengers were covered with fine 
"shiny, silvery dust."  (Note: Police recently seized 43 
kilograms of RDX in connection with the Auragabad case noted 
above.  Police sources also told us that one ton of commercial 
grade explosives, believed to be gelatin, were stolen from a 
construction site in Mumbai several months ago.  End note.) 
 
Mumbai Remaining Calm 
--------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) There are no reports of reprisals against the city's 
Muslim community to date and public blaming of local Muslims 
continue to be avoided.  A citywide protest denouncing 
terrorism, however, was allegedly planned for July 13, but 
called off, our contacts tell us. 
 
¶6. (U) Mumbai's train system, which experienced minor delays 
yesterday, is operating normally on July 13.  The international 
airport was reporting delays on flights to and from Delhi due to 
increased passenger security checks.  The bombings have made 
some commuters nervous, however.  Passengers at Bhayendar 
station, for instance, reportedly handed over four individuals 
to law enforcement for allegedly abandoning bags at the 
terminal.  All were then questioned and immediately released. 
Mumbai Director General of Police Roy, moreover, announced the 
future use of explosives sniffing dogs and metal detectors at 
city train stations to help calm fears.  (Comment: Assuming 
police have them in sufficient numbers, dogs would seem easy to 
deploy.  Creating a workable metal detector system in the 
free-for-all of Mumbai's overcrowded railway stations seems 
unrealistic in the short-term.  End comment.)  Federal Railway 
Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav recently announced $11,111 
compensation for each victim and promised one railway job for a 
family member of every deceased. 
 
¶7. (U) After gaining an impressive 2.97 percent the day after 
the bombings, the stock market was trading down approximately 1 
percent on the afternoon of July 13.  Businesses, government 
offices, schools and colleges all were open for business again 
as well. 
OWEN