HUJI/SIMI group or offshoots have launched a campaign of attacks across high profile targets in Mumbai. Rather than serial bombings, the outfits have opted for explosions at a gas station, the docks, primary railyway hub, Cafe Leopold, coupled with armed assaults of the the elite Oberoi Hotel and Taj Mahal Hotel, as well as perhaps the Ramada Inn and Cama Hospital.

UPDATE: Movie theaters, cafes, are under attack. It’s a full scale assault, hit and run, drive by shootings, etc. The Navy is clearing the port after two boats packed with explosives.

Here’s the important notes:

• Unsophisticated equipment. RDX is readily accessible for anyone with access to the black market and sufficient cash. Automatic weapons are harder to come by, but not absurdly so.

• Unsophisticated tactics. OSINT says the assault teams simply walked into the lobby of the hotels and opened fire, then began rounding up white hostages, sorting by US and UK passport holders. No disguises have been reported. Teams on the roof are throwing grenades (likely how Anti Terrorism Squad DIG Karkare – general officer – was killed after responding.)

A sustained hostage situation (a la Tehran ‘79) is very unlikely. More later.

Excellent Flickr stream.

UPDATE: Deccan Mujahideen has taken responsibility. It is a front for the Indian Mujahideen, which is deeply connected with SIMI and HUJI – the search for the social systempunkt has reached yet another major data point.