U.S. Officials: Mumbai a Turning Point in Terrorist Tactics

Jan. 8, 2009— -- Although terrorists have targeted aviation and mass transit in deadly attacks in recent years, top U.S. intelligence and security officials said today that the low-tech mass killings of the November Mumbai attacks could be a turning point in terrorism tactics.

The deadly attacks, which left 164 dead and injured hundreds, showed that 10 gunmen were able to seize the world's attention as the attacks unfolded for nearly three days.

"Terrorists are very attuned to the media and they saw the success. ... Some groups may look to this as a model," said the FBI's chief intelligence officer, Donald Van Duyn, at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

"We sometimes focus on tactics that may be exotic and esoteric, but for most terrorists, they're looking for what works."

The attackers were skilled with firearms, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told the committee.

"When our liaisons toured the hotels and railway stations," he said, "they saw from bullet holes that shots were fired in groups of three aimed at head level."

On Wednesday in Washington, White House Homeland Security Advisor Ken Wainstein said the attackers were "very well trained" for such a low-tech operation.

"They economized on ammunition and maximized the death that they left," he said.

Although more people -- 209 -- were killed in a July 11, 2006 attack aboard an Indian train in another act of terrorism, DHS Chief Intelligence Officer Charles Allen noted that the Mumbai attackers "were able to galvanize the world for 72 hours."

Recently released transcripts of phone calls between the attackers and their handlers show how keenly aware they were of the impact of their actions.

In one of the intercepts a handler says, "The media is comparing your action to 9/11. One senior police official has been killed. ... Everything is being recorded by the media. Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don't be taken alive."

In another excerpt, one of the handlers says to one of the gunmen, "Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire."