Terrorists launched a multipronged siege of the Indian city of Mumbai last week, which left at least 195 people dead and more than 300 wounded. The attacks are an offense against all civilized people and must be roundly condemned. But words alone are not enough. Those responsible for this outrage, and their supporters, must be caught and punished. There can be no sanctuaries in this fight. These horrific attacks are a reminder that the threat of terrorism is ever present and is a problem for all of us.
The assault on Mumbai, a city of 18 million people, one of India's economic centers and home of the "Bollywood" film industry, began Wednesday night when at least two dozen men armed with explosives and automatic weapons attacked 10 sites popular among tourists and the city's business elite. They fired at random at the train station, a Jewish center, hospitals and restaurants, and took hostages at the Jewish center and at two of the city's most famous hotels. Police said Saturday all of the gunmen had been killed or taken into custody.
An unknown group calling itself Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks. "Deccan" refers to the Deccan Plateau, an area that covers much of the central and southern part of India. "Mujahedeen" are holy warriors. A militant group called Indian Mujahedeen launched a bombing spree this year that has claimed more than 130 lives, striking New Delhi in September in a series of attacks that killed 21 people.