Mumbai Under Attack

It was only 6 weeks ago that we were sat in Leopold's drinking one night after sitting on Chowpatty beach having our evening picnic.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to sit somewhere that we had all read about and which we knew so well through just reading Shantaram. The place oozed with recent history and was so special to us all.
The staff were so friendly and equally in awe of it's famous customer, Linbaba.

Last night, Leopold's came under attack by gunmen. The news is still breaking so we don't know who was injured, but the photos show bullet holes in the windows.

A more obvious place for terrorists to attack, but no less upsetting, is the majestic Taj Mahal hotel, a popular attraction equally for wealthy western businessmen and for backpackers taking an hour to sit in the fabulous tea rooms and restaurants to taste a piece of India's more opulent side.

It seems everyone was targetted, with no qualms about hurting nationals, tourists, rich or poor.

Opening fire in the main train station bares testimony to this. Having been there myself very recently and seeing the platforms absolutely packed - really packed - with people from all walks of life, it is apparent that the culprits were not interested in who they killed in their pursuit of whichever cause they were fighting for. Homeless people, beggars, children, mothers, fathers, businessmen and tourists all use the station on a daily basis.

To see the horror of the gunmen storming down the main road through Mumbai, the road we knew so well from spending 2 nights in our hotel on it, was terrifying. They were sparing no one.

It is said that the terrorists were asking for British and Americans to bring forward their ID in Leopolds, but in an all-out attack on a train station and busy road, it is impossible to seperate one nationality from another, whatever their reasons for doing so.

Mumbai just seemed such an innocent and vibrant place. It was bustling and hectic and we did get unwelcome attention from beggars, but they are now the people that I think of the most and pray that they were unharmed.

I also pray that there were no other Intrepid groups there at the time. It seems ridiculous to think that, as there are so so many people affected, but I guess you pray for those closest to home first and the ones you can identify with personally.

The trauma all these people have gone through, whether they were injured or not, is just immense. I just can't imagine a cause great enough for this to happen.