Mumbai Terror Attacks Suspect Says He is From Pakistan
Sole surviving suspected gunman in attacks which left 166 dead appears in court by videolink for the start of his trial
The sole surviving alleged gunman who bought terror to Mumbai admitted today that he was from Pakistan.
Mohammed Ajmal Kasab faces the death penalty if convicted over the attack in which 166 people were killed after terrorists bombed and shot their way across India's biggest city.
Kasab appeared by videolink for the start of his trial where he is accused of "waging war" against India. Police have asked for the death penalty if he is convicted.
Kasab, bearded and wearing a grey T-shirt, does not yet have a lawyer.
According to the Indian news channel NDTV, Kasab was asked during the hearing whether he wanted a lawyer and replied: "If there will be a trial then I will need a lawyer."
The judge, ML Tahiliyani, sitting in Mumbai, asked the alleged terrorist if he had any preference as to who should represent him. Kasab replied: "Could you just call the lawyer, who appeared on my behalf on November 27?", a reference to an earlier hearing held last year.
When asked if he would agree to a government-appointed lawyer, Kasab replied in Hindi: "Theek hai [all right]." He thanked the judge and was taken back to his cell.
During the hearing today Kasab said he was from Faridkot in the Punjab area of Pakistan.
Told by Judge Tahiliyani, "I am the judge, who will conduct the trial in your case," Qasab smiled and replied "Namaste" in acknowledgment.
India has charged 38 people, including Kasab, over the three days of attacks inflicted on India's financial capital.
Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, two alleged Indian Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives – the group India claims were behind the attacks – will also face trial.
The charge sheet, which runs to 11,000 pages, contains accounts of more than 2,200 witnesses as well as other evidence provided by the FBI, which helped Indian police with the investigation.
Those charged as key planners of the attacks included Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other senior Lashkar members Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah.
Mohammed Ajmal Kasab faces the death penalty if convicted over the attack in which 166 people were killed after terrorists bombed and shot their way across India's biggest city.
Kasab appeared by videolink for the start of his trial where he is accused of "waging war" against India. Police have asked for the death penalty if he is convicted.
Kasab, bearded and wearing a grey T-shirt, does not yet have a lawyer.
According to the Indian news channel NDTV, Kasab was asked during the hearing whether he wanted a lawyer and replied: "If there will be a trial then I will need a lawyer."
The judge, ML Tahiliyani, sitting in Mumbai, asked the alleged terrorist if he had any preference as to who should represent him. Kasab replied: "Could you just call the lawyer, who appeared on my behalf on November 27?", a reference to an earlier hearing held last year.
When asked if he would agree to a government-appointed lawyer, Kasab replied in Hindi: "Theek hai [all right]." He thanked the judge and was taken back to his cell.
During the hearing today Kasab said he was from Faridkot in the Punjab area of Pakistan.
Told by Judge Tahiliyani, "I am the judge, who will conduct the trial in your case," Qasab smiled and replied "Namaste" in acknowledgment.
India has charged 38 people, including Kasab, over the three days of attacks inflicted on India's financial capital.
Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, two alleged Indian Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives – the group India claims were behind the attacks – will also face trial.
The charge sheet, which runs to 11,000 pages, contains accounts of more than 2,200 witnesses as well as other evidence provided by the FBI, which helped Indian police with the investigation.
Those charged as key planners of the attacks included Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other senior Lashkar members Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah.
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