Mumbai terror attack: what really happened on those fateful days of terror?

In 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists came to Mumbai via the sea route from Pakistan and carried out series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city.

166 people were killed and over 300 people were injured in the attack which lasted four days.

The very first incident was recorded around 20:00 Indian Standard Time November 26, when 10 men came ashore at two locations in Colaba, Mumbai.

They reportedly told local Marathi-speaking fishermen who asked them who they were to "mind their own business" before they split and went two different directions

Two gunmen, Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

Around 21:30, the two men entered the hall with AK-47 rifles and open fire. Their assault ended at about 22:45.

Ajmal Amir Kasab and Ismail Khan carried out the attack at this station, killing as many as 58 people and injuring over 100.

Ajmal Kasab was later caught alive by the police and identified by eyewitnesses. He disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT. The Government of India said that the attackers came from Pakistan, and their controllers were in Pakistan.

On January 7, 2009, Pakistan confirmed that Kasab, the sole terrorist who survived the attack, was a Pakistani citizen.

A popular restaurant and bar on Colaba Causeway in South Mumbai, the Leopold Cafe, was one of the first sites to be attacked.

Hemant Karkare and his team of Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad searched the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and then left in pursuit of Ismail Khan and Ajmal Kasab.

Shoaib alias Soheb and Nazir alias Abu Umer, opened fire on November 26, on the cafe.

The open fire by two attackers killed 10 people including some foreigners and injuring many more.

The Taj hotel reported six explosions: one in the lobby, two in the elevators, three in the restaurant, and one at the Oberoi Trident.

During the first night of the attacks, firefighters used ladders to rescue 200 hostages from the Taj.  

Timer bombs were used for the two explosions in the taxis. The first one occurred at Vile Parle at 22:40, and killed a driver and a passenger.

The second one took place between 22:20 and 22:25 at the city's Wadi Bunder, killing three people, including the driver of the taxi, and injuring about 15 others.

On November 27, at 18:45, an explosion was heard at the Oberoi Trident. Two NSG guards and 25 army personnel were suspected to be injured. Thirty-one people were rescued.

On November 28, at 10:00 many hostages were evacuated from the Trident building.

At 15:00, commando operations began at Hotel Oberoi, over 24 bodies were recovered, around 143 hostages rescued alive and two terrorists were shot dead.

Nariman House, a Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre in Colaba known as the Mumbai Chabad House, was taken over by two attackers. Police evacuated adjacent buildings and exchanged fire with the attackers, injuring one. Local residents were told to stay inside. The attackers threw a grenade into a nearby lane. No casualties took place.

NSG commandos then took on the Nariman house, and a Naval helicopter took an aerial survey.

During the first day, 9 hostages were rescued from the first floor.

31 hostages were rescued on November 27. 

Nine hostages were rescued on November 28. 

From the Oberoi-Trident, 143 hostages were rescued on November 29.

Nine of the terrorists were killed by the Mumbai Police and National Security Guard.

The only terrorist captured alive, Ajmal Kasab, was convicted and sentenced to death. Kasab was hanged five days before the fourth anniversary of the attacks, which lasted for four days, on November 21, 2012.