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better safe than sorry: A tourist escaped wearing only a bathrobe from the Trident Hotel at Nariman Point on Wednesday. Pic/SURESH KK | WHO
According to top intelligence sources, at least six terror modules comprising nearly 20 youths aged between 25-30 years are believed to be the executors of Wednesday's attack in Mumbai.
"The attack is unprecedented, its scale beyond anticipation, and very clearly directed at the international audience. Star hotels were hit with the intent of taking foreign tourists hostage,'' a senior official told MiD DAY.
A meeting chaired by union home minister Shivraj Patil with top cops from the NSG, state police and home department officials yesterday morning, concluded that the attack was conceived and executed by Pakistan-trained terrorists.
"Preliminary intelligence inputs suggest they arrived in two speed boats one anchored near Sassoon Customs Docks off Colaba coast, and another near Fishermen's Colony at Cuffe Parade. They spread out into small modules to execute the highly sophisticated terror operation," said a senior official.
"One module was armed with hand grenades, Kalashnikov assault rifles and automatic pistols. The second went on planting bombs and lobbed grenades as they drove along,'' he added.
HOW
Module I: Two youths carrying backpacks storm the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus from platform nos 13, 14 and 15, and open fire. They also lob a grenade at the BMC canopy, and flee through a lane to enter the Cama and Albless Hospital.
> Holed up here, they exchange fire with cops. ATS chief Hemant Karkare, ACP Ashok Kamte, and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar die in the shootout.
> The group steals a car and drives towards Metro Adlabs shooting randomly. They are apprehended by cops at Girgaum Chowpatty. Two terrorists killed and one arrested.
Module 2: This module enters Leopold café and opens fire at foreign tourists. These men enter Nariman House at Colaba Market and lob grenades from the terrace of the building.
Module 3: Five to six militants storm Hotel Trident, open fire in the lobby and hold hostages inside the hotel.
Module 4: Six terrorists enter Taj Mahal Hotel, fire at guests and hold tourists hostage.
Module 5: Hurl grenades at a taxi near BIT Colony, Mazgaon
Module 6: This group travels in a taxi and lobs grenades at Santacruz. Also plants a bomb in a taxi at VileParle. | 
