United States President Donald Trump has expressed solidarity with the victims of the deadly terror attack that shook Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Trump took to Twitter on Monday and said the Unites States stands with the people of India in their quest for justice over the 26/11 attack.
The US President tweeted, “On the ten-year anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the US stands with the people of India in their quest for justice. The attack killed 166 innocents, including six Americans. We will never let terrorists win, or even come close to winning!”
India’s financial capital came to a standstill on November 26 a decade ago, when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city.
The attacks took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel in Mumbai.
US announces $5 million reward for input on 26/11 attackers
Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, in a statement released by the US Department of State, announced that the US will reward up to USD five million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 attack.
“The United States is committed to seeing that those responsible for this attack face justice. The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offers a new reward for up to USD five million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack,” the statement read.
Pompeo also asserted that the US will call upon Pakistan, to uphold its UN Security Council obligation to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity.
This comes in the wake of the US reiterating that the USD 1.3 billion in aid to Pakistan would remain suspended until the country acts against militant safe heavens inside its territory.
The US, which is fighting the Taliban militants since 2001 in Afghanistan, continues to seek an exit strategy from the troubled country and in recent months Washington has held direct talks with the Taliban representatives to end the 17 year long war.
France condemns attacks, demands action
Meanwhile, France, Israel and the UK took a similar stand, condemning the Mumbai terror attack.
France reiterated its condemnation for all forms of terrorism across the world and demanded that such crimes should not go unpunished.
A press statement by the French Ministry said that all countries should act decisively against terrorism, to implement the sanctions policy defined by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
UK stands with India to fight global terrorism
Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom took to Twitter saying, “On the 10 year anniversary of the appalling attacks in Mumbai my thoughts are again with the families and friends of those killed and injured. There can be no justification for acts of terror and the UK continues to stand in solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.”
Also, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar cited the official Twitter account of British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai and retweeted them saying, “Today we remember families of victims and survivors of the #MumbaiTerrorAttacks. The UK stands united with India in the global fight against terrorism”
Israel pays tribute to 26/11 victims
Ambassador and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Yuval Rotem also tweeted, “10 years ago on this day, extremist Islamic terrorism struck the city and people of Mumbai and its Jewish community. Israel stands in solidarity with India against terrorism and in memory of its victims. May their memory be a blessing.”
Nariman Light House memorial unveiled
One of the key targets, Chabad or Nariman House, in Colaba was transformed into a permanent memorial, unveiled on Monday.
Newly-appointed Israeli Ambassador to India Ron Malka and Chabad House rabbi Israel Koszlovsky inaugurated the refurbished ‘Nariman Light House’ and the ‘Nariman Light House Memorial’ on the five-storied building rooftop at a solemn function.
The first phase of the ‘Nariman Light House Memorial’ includes a plaque with the names of all the 166 victims of the 26/11 terror strikes, a gently flowing fountain in an artificial garden signifying the flow of life, purification and regeneration, and six planks signifying the prime targeted locations.
The fifth floor served as the erstwhile residence of the slain rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka and their toddler son Moshe, who was barely two and saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel, from the terrorists’ indiscriminate firing that night.