Taxi was meant to blow up Mumbai airport

India Today ^ | November 28, 2008 | Prabhu Chawla

[PapaBear3625]

The flyover [overpass] outside the domestic airport in Mumbai and a taxi driver’s unfamiliarity with the new slip route to the terminal perhaps went a long way in averting a major disaster that could have taken the toll into hundreds on Wednesday night itself.

Shortly before the terrorists moved into their targets in South Mumbai, a black and yellow taxi, with three passengers and enough ammunition to bring down a dome, sped in the direction of the airport. Instead of taking a slip road that would have taken the passengers straight to the airport, the driver took the flyover which bypassed the airport, only to get stuck at a red light.

At rush hour, the lights stayed red for long, at which the passengers berated the driver and asked him to cut the traffic lights. The driver moved on, but the wait turned out to be a minute or two too long. The car exploded. All that was found was a severed head and parts of three human legs. Had the terrorists' plans of coinciding a blast at the airport with the attacks on the Taj and Oberoi hotels succeeded, the death toll of 26/11 would have been much bigger than it already is.

[Right Wing Assault]

enough ammunition to bring down a dome

So, how much ammo DOES it take to bring down a dome? I've always wondered.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“That’s a good question. Much of it they could deduce from where the car blew up, figuring the target was the airport and they probably missed their exit. The part about the passengers berating the driver has to be pure speculation, though.”

That might not be entirely true. They were stopped at a red light in traffic. It is possible that people in other vehicles saw an arguement start in the cab.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

There is nothing in the account which suggests that the taxi driver was Muslim, only that he happened to be unfortunate enough to get these particular fares with murder on their mind.

For that matter, the fares might not have known that their package was timed to go off when it did. Suicide bombers are not the brightest of bulbs, and sometimes their handlers don’t overtax their feeble minds with a “full monty” about their role in a jihadist action.

[Smokin' Joe]

With TV reporters dishing out exclusives about the actions that the forces were contemplating, it appeared that the terrorists were always a step ahead

Geraldo? Is that you?

Dumb@ssed reporters!

[PapaBear3625]

For that matter, the fares might not have known that their package was timed to go off when it did. Suicide bombers are not the brightest of bulbs, and sometimes their handlers don’t overtax their feeble minds with a “full monty” about their role in a jihadist action.

It is to the advantage of the handlers that there not be anybody captured. Dead men tell no tales.