Bombs discovery fuels concerns about security in Mumbai

Police found two bombs at Mumbai’s main train station nearly a week after they were left there by gunmen behind the attacks – in a stunning new example of the botched security that has become a major issue in India since the deadly three-day siege.

The discovery came as Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India is “determined to act decisively” following the attacks, saying the evidence was clear the gunmen came from Pakistan and their handlers are still there.

His words, the strongest yet from the government, came as thousands of Indians - many calling for war with Pakistan – held a vigil in Mumbai to mark one week since the start of the rampage that killed 171 people.

While searching through a mound of about 150 bags, which police believed were left by the dozens of victims in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station, an officer found a suspicious-looking bag and called the bomb squad, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Bapu Domre.

Inside were two 8.8-pound bombs, which were taken away and safely detonated, he said.

After the attacks, police found unexploded bombs at several of the sites, including two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre.

It was not immediately clear why the bags at the station were not examined earlier. The station, which serves hundreds of thousands of commuters, was declared safe and reopened hours after the attack.

The discovery has added to increasing accusations that India’s security forces missed warnings and bungled its response to the November 26-29 attacks.

Indian navy chief Sureesh Mehta has called the response to the attacks “a systemic failure”.

The country’s top law enforcement official has resigned amid criticism that the 10 gunmen appeared better coordinated and better armed than police in Mumbai.

Mr Mukherjee adopted a more strident tone against longtime rival Pakistan.

“There is no doubt the terrorist attacks in Mumbai were perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan,” Mr Mukherjee said after a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“The government of India is determined to act decisively to protect Indian territorial integrity and the right of our citizens to a peaceful life, with all the means at our disposal,” he said, a turnaround from earlier statements that ruled out military action.

Dr Rice urged Pakistan to act “transparently, urgently and fully,” saying Islamabad has a “special responsibility” to cooperate with the investigation. She noted that with six Americans killed in the attacks, the US was cooperating closely with India.