On the November 26 2008, 10 gunmen arrived off Mumbai on a hijacked fishing trawler. The crew was killed, the captain left alive to navigate. Later that night the Indian intelligence services began recording the terrorists talking to their controllers in Pakistan. Read excerpts of those conversations here.
At the Taj Hotel
Controller: Pile up the carpets and mattresses from the room you've opened. Douse them in alcohol and set them alight. Get a couple of floors burning. And when we ring, make sure you answer.
Controller: Peace be with you. How are you getting on? Have you started the fire yet?
Gunman: No we haven't started it yet.
C: You must start the fire now. Nothing's going to happen until you start the fire. When people see the flames, they will begin to be afraid
C: And throw some grenades my brother. There's no harm in throwing a few grenades. How hard can it be to throw a grenade? Just pull the pin and throw it.
G: There are computers here with 30-inch screens!
C: Computers? Haven't you set fire to them?
G: We're just about to. You'll be able to see the fire in a sec.
C: We can't watch if there aren't any flames. Where are they?
G: It's amazing! The windows are huge. It's got two kitchens, a bath and a little shop.
C: Start the fire, my brother... Start a proper fire, that's the important thing.
C: How are you Ali? All well?
G: Thanks be to God, I'm fine. It's taken a long time to break the doors down. We've managed to break into three or four rooms facing the sea, and we've set fire to them.
C: My brother, yours is the most important target. The media is covering your target, the Taj hotel, more than any other.
The Trident Oberoi Hotel
C: it going, brother Fahadullah?
G: Brother Abdul Rehman has just died, praise God.
C: Oh really? Is he nearby?
G: Yes, he's right next to me.
C: May God accept his martyrdom.
G: The room is on fire. They're showing it on the TV. I'm sitting in the bathroom.
C: You mustn't let them arrest you, remember that.
G: God willing. God willing
C: Fahadullah my brother, can't you just get out there and fight? Throw a grenade and try to get out.
G: I've run out of grenades.
C: Be brave brother, don't panic. For your mission to end successfully you must be killed. God is waiting for you in heaven.
G: God willing.
May God help you. Fight bravely, and put your phone in your pocket but leave it on. [Gunfire] Fahadullah?? Fahadullah?
A message from the controller
Controller: They're saying that there are many many killed and injured. The whole city has been shot up. Fires are burning everywhere. People are dying all over the place. With God's blessing, you've done a brilliant job!
Gunman: All praise to God. All praise to God.
C: You're very close to heaven. For your mission to end successfully, you must be killed. The enemy must fear us. When this is over, there will be much more fear in the world.
C: Give the government an ultimatum. Say, 'This was just the trailer. Just wait till you see the rest of the film. This is just a small example.'
G: Wait for the rest of the film – shall I write that down? The main film is yet to come.
