Squad to hit Mumbai hotel in 26/11-type strike: Intelligence

MUMBAI: Close on the heels of a high alert declared ahead of the 26/11 anniversary, intelligence inputs have hinted at Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Indian Mujahideen joining forces to carry out a terror attack on a five-star hotel in Mumbai, similar to the November 26, 2008 offensive.

Security agencies said a seven-member gang comprising operatives from the three outfits has apparently been despatched to the city. This was revealed in intelligence inputs sent to Mumbai police by central agencies.

Officials, however, are not sure when such a unit is to arrive in the city, or if it already has.

''A group of seven trained terrorists has been despatched to target a five-star hotel attacked earlier. We don't have much information about the seven militants but have tightened security,'' said an official.

Last year, more than 300 intelligence alerts were issued to Maharashtra police but none of them translated into a threat. What has taken the Mumbai security establishment by surprise this time is the possibility of terror outfits working together. The conspiracy was allegedly hatched in Kashmir. "It seems an Indian Mujahideen representative was also present at the meeting that was attended by top LeT and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants. The selection of terrorists was done at the meeting and later they were dispatched,'' a source said.

Security has been stepped up not only at five-star hotels but all locations that David Headley is known to have recceed ahead of the 26/11 attack.