The Fog of Breaking NewsWhy you should take reports from the scene of a massacre with a grain of salt.
Posted Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at 5:47 PM ET
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StumbleUponPolice believe attacks at the Leopold cafe, popular with tourists, and at CST station, may have been diversions to provide cover as other gang members stormed their two main targets—Mumbai's two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and Trident-Oberoi.
—The Age (Melbourne) Dec. 1, 2008
"It seemed like they were in a hurry," [Leopold Café owner Farhang Jehani] said. "It was as if they wanted to shoot as many people as they could even though this was not their main target. Their motive might have been to divert the police, who have a station across the street, to keep them occupied as they headed to the Taj hotel."
—Washington Post, Dec. 1, 2008
Did the marauders intend to escape?
[Captured terrorist] Kasab has allegedly revealed that their plan was to take hostages at the Taj hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House and then use them to escape from the city, [a senior police official] added.
—Press Trust of India, Nov. 29, 2008
The sole Mumbai gunman captured alive has told police he was trained in Pakistan and ordered to "kill until the last breath," according to a leaked account of his interrogation.
—The Times of London, Dec. 1, 2008
[The terrorists] also intended to escape Mumbai after the attacks, but officials say it might have been a formality. One Indian official said that he believes the terrorists knew well in advance that they were on a one-way mission.
—ABCNews.com, Dec. 1, 2008
The terrorists thought they would come out alive and had an escape route, added [gunman] Kasav.
—Daily Mail, Dec. 1, 2008
"Their plan was just to cause maximum damage and return with hostages protecting themselves," [said Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner for Crime Rakesh Maria].
—The Times, Dec. 2, 2008
Another GPS unit recovered in Mumbai suggested that the terrorists planned to return to the [hijacked fishing] vessel if they survived the attacks, [Rakesh] Maria said."
—Wall Street Journal, Dec. 2, 2008
How did the killers sustain themselves for three days?
[T]he militants carried bundles of Indian rupees, packets of raisins and nuts to keep their energy high. …
—Wall Street Journal, Dec. 2, 2008
Officials said drug paraphernalia, including syringes, was recovered from the scene of the attacks, which killed almost 200 people. ...
"We found injections containing traces of cocaine and LSD left behind by the terrorists and later found drugs in their blood," said one official.
"There was also evidence of steroids, which isn't uncommon in terrorists."
—Daily Telegraph, Dec. 2, 2008
Can you trust anything attributed to Azam Amir Kasab?
An officer of the Anti-Terror Squad branch in Mumbai, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said [Kasab] had given inconsistent answers to questioning, sometimes saying there were 10 attackers, sometimes more than 10.
—New York Times, Dec. 1, 2008
Only 10 militants have been identified, but, according to a private TV channel, Azam Amir Qasab apparently confirmed there were 15 attackers.
—BBC.com, Dec. 1, 2008
Most of what Mr. [Azam Amir] Kasab has said so far has proven accurate, [Rakesh Maria] said in the interview.
—Wall Street Journal, Dec. 2, 2008
How badly was Kasab wounded?
The government has not allowed outside access to the captive, who is said to have identified himself as Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani citizen who was wounded in the leg and was being treated at a military hospital.
—New York Times, Dec. 1, 2008
The terrorist [Kasab] was taken to the hospital after he was hit in the hand by a bullet in the early stages of the assault on Mumbai last week.
—The Australian, Dec. 2, 2008
"[Kasab] had some aberrations and bruises on his upper and lower limbs. He did not have any bullet injury and did not require surgery. He was given treatment on the spot and there has been no active treatment on him after that," said Ravi Ranade, dean of B Y L Nair hospital.
—IndianExpress.com, Dec. 2, 2008
Did Kasab want to live or die?
After being captured, Kasab was taken ... to Nair hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He reportedly told medical staff: "I do not want to die. Please put me on saline."
—The Guardian, Nov. 30, 2008
"He kept saying, 'Please kill me. I do not want to live,' " said Kishore C. Bhatt, 56, a hospital volunteer who was there that night. "He was on a stretcher about three to four feet away from me. He was injured. His face had no expression, but his voice sounded angry."
—Washington Post, Dec. 3, 2008
******
Poe spoke for me when he wrote, "the lightness of the artillery should not degenerate into pop-gunnery." Shoot your mouth off at . (E-mail may be quoted by name in "The Fray," Slate's readers' forum; in a future article; or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.)
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