1993 Mumbai Bombings
The 1993 Mumbai bombings were a series of bomb explosions that took place in Mumbai (Bombay), India on March 12, 1993. The attacks were the worst wave of criminal violence in that country's history.
At 1:30 PM a powerful car bomb exploded in the basement of the Mumbai Stock Exchange building. The 28-story office building housing the exchange was destroyed, and many nearby office buildings were also severely damaged. About 50 were killed by this explosion. About 30 minutes later, another car bomb exploded elsewhere in the city, and from 1:30 PM to 3:40 PM a total of 13 bombs exploded throughout Bombay. Most of the bombs were car bombs, but some were in in scooters. Three hotels, the Hotel Sea Rock, Hotel Juhu Centaur, and Hotel Airport Centaur, were targeted by suitcase bombs left in rooms booked by the perpetrators. Banks, government offices, hotels, an airline office (the Air India Building), and a major shopping complex. Bombs exploded at Zaveri Bazar, Century Bazar, Katha Bazar, Shiv Sena Bhawan, and Plaza Theatre. A jeep-bomb at the Century Bazar exploded early, thwarting another attack. Grenades were also thrown at Sahar International Airport and at Fishermen's Colony, apparently targeting Hindus at the latter.
The official number of dead was 257 dead with 1,400 others injured (some news sources say 317 people died). Several days later, unexploded car bombs were discovered at a railway station. Muslim terrorists were blamed, and the explosions remained unsolved for a decade. Indian officials arrested two men on February 20, 2003 and charged them with organizing the attacks after rioting the year before killed hundreds of Muslims and Hindus. India also charged that Pakistan was sheltering some of those responsible.
On August 25, 2003, two large bombs left in taxis exploded in Mumbai, killing 52 people and wounding more than 100 others. India blamed a Kashmir-based militant group for those attacks.
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