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2011 Mumbai bombings

SOLVED2011Mumbai, India3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 13 July 2011, between 18:54 and 19:06 IST, three coordinated bomb explosions struck Mumbai, India, at Zaveri Bazaar, the Opera House area near Charni Road, and Dadar West. The blasts killed 26 people and injured 130 others. The first device, planted on a motorcycle at Khau Gali in Zaveri Bazaar, exploded at 18:54. The second, hidden in a tiffin box outside Prasad Chambers and Panchratna Building in the Opera House area—home to thousands of diamond-trade workers—detonated at 18:55. The third device was placed on an electric pole near a bus stand in Dadar and exploded at 19:06. In the aftermath, phone networks were jammed, several major Indian cities were placed on high alert, and injured victims were taken to hospitals including J.J. Hospital, St. George Hospital, Hurkisondas Hospital, and G. T. Hospital.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi visited Mumbai the following day and met with injured victims. The central government announced compensation of ₹200,000 to the families of each person killed and ₹100,000 to those seriously injured, while the Maharashtra state government announced additional compensation of ₹500,000 and ₹50,000 respectively.

The Home Ministry classified the bombings as a terrorist act and deployed a National Investigation Agency team. Preliminary findings pointed to ammonium nitrate-based IEDs mixed with fuel oil, and investigators suspected the possible use of remote detonators. Early speculation about responsibility included the Indian Mujahideen, underworld figures, Kashmiri groups, or actors seeking to derail Indo-Pakistani peace talks, though these were noted as speculative in contemporaneous reporting.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a suspect in August 2011 in connection with a stolen motorcycle used in the Zaveri Bazaar blast. In January 2012, Mumbai Police announced arrests of two individuals accused of stealing scooters used in the bombings, describing the logistics as managed by Yasin Bhatkal, identified as the plot's alleged mastermind. Further investigation reportedly identified two Pakistani nationals as bombers who had used multiple SIM cards obtained through a co-accused. In May 2012, the Maharashtra ATS filed a chargesheet against four arrested individuals and named six others, including Yasin Bhatkal, as wanted accused. Bhatkal was handed into ATS custody in February 2014 for further investigation into the case, and in July 2014 an additional suspect was arrested at Goa's Dabolim Airport on allegations of financing the operation through hawala transactions.

Separately, a man named Faiz Usmani, detained for questioning as part of the investigation, died in police custody on 17 July 2011, prompting allegations of police brutality from his family. Police stated he died of medical causes including hypertension-related complications, and a CID probe into his death was ordered.

The attacks drew condemnation from Indian political leaders across parties, as well as international bodies including the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Security Council, the European Union, and NATO.

Key facts

Victims
Faiz Usmani
Date
2011
Location
Mumbai, India
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2011-07-13

    Three coordinated bomb blasts occur at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House area, and Dadar West in Mumbai between 18:54 and 19:06 IST, killing 26 and injuring 130.

  2. 2011-07-14

    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi visit Mumbai and meet injured victims; compensation announced by central and state governments.

  3. 2011-07-15

    NIA team visits Ahmedabad to meet an Indian Mujahideen suspect linked to the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings.

  4. 2011-07-16

    Maharashtra ATS Chief Rakesh Maria states forensic evidence rules out a suicide bomber; a suspect sketch is prepared from CCTV footage.

  5. 2011-07-17

    Detained suspect Faiz Usmani dies in police custody, prompting allegations of police brutality and a CID probe.

  6. 2011-08-04

    Home Minister P. Chidambaram suggests involvement of a home-grown terror module.

  7. 2011-08-09

    Maharashtra ATS arrests a person accused of stealing a bike used in the Zaveri Bazaar explosion.

  8. 2012-01-23

    Mumbai Police announce arrests of two suspects, Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed Sheikh and Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Sheikh, in connection with stolen scooters used in the blasts.

  9. 2012-05-25

    Maharashtra ATS files a chargesheet against four arrested individuals and names six others, including Yasin Bhatkal, as wanted accused.

  10. 2014-02-04

    Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal is handed to Maharashtra ATS custody for investigation into the bombings.

  11. 2014-07-16

    Mumbai ATS arrests Abdul Mateen Fakki at Goa's Dabolim Airport on allegations of financing the attack via hawala transfers.

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People

  • Haroon Naik

    CHARGED

    Named in the Maharashtra ATS chargesheet filed 25 May 2012.

  • Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Sheikh

    CHARGED

    Arrested January 2012 and named in the May 2012 chargesheet in connection with stolen scooters used in the blasts.

  • Rakesh Maria

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Maharashtra ATS Chief who led public statements on the forensic investigation into the blasts.

  • Faiz Usmani

    VICTIM

    Detained for questioning by Mumbai Police and died in custody on 17 July 2011; a CID probe was ordered into his death amid allegations of police brutality.

  • Kanwar Pathrija

    CHARGED

    Named in the Maharashtra ATS chargesheet filed 25 May 2012.

  • Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed Sheikh

    CHARGED

    Arrested January 2012 and named in the May 2012 chargesheet in connection with stolen scooters used in the blasts and admitted role assisting the bombers.

  • Yasin Bhatkal

    CHARGED

    Named in the May 2012 chargesheet as wanted accused and identified as the Indian Mujahideen co-founder alleged to have managed the plot's logistics; taken into ATS custody in February 2014 for investigation.

  • Abdul Mateen Fakki

    CHARGED

    Arrested 16 July 2014 at Goa's Dabolim Airport, accused of financing the attack by passing money through hawala sources to Yasin Bhatkal.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Mumbai, India

18.9600, 72.8200

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 13 July 2011, three coordinated bomb blasts struck Mumbai's Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar, and Dadar West within minutes of each other, killing 26 people and injuring 130. Investigators attributed the attack to the Indian Mujahideen network, with charges filed against multiple accused, including its co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.
Where did the crime happen?
Mumbai, India.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in India

Sources

  1. 2011 Mumbai bombingswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — ndtv.comnews · ndtv.com · 2026-07-07