Media Release

FA106 - 26 August 2003

Bombings In Mumbai

I condemn in the strongest terms yesterday’s simultaneous bombings at two prominent locations in Mumbai - the Gateway of India and Zavery Bazaar. The bombings follow a series of smaller-scale bombings in Mumbai which have killed 15 people in the past eight months. This is the largest scale act of terrorism in Mumbai since simultaneous blasts at the city’s stock exchange in 1993.

Yesterday’s attacks reportedly killed up to 48 people and injured over 115 and numbers are expected to rise. Australians will deeply sympathise with the families of those affected given our own experience of terrorism.

The Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai has been working closely with Indian officials to ascertain whether any foreigners were injured. At this stage we are not aware of any Australians casualties.

I will be meeting my Indian counterpart, Mr Yashwant Sinha, in Adelaide this Thursday. Terrorism will be a central theme of our discussions, a theme made all the more pertinent by yesterday’s tragic events.

Media enquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) (02) 6277 7500 - Julie McDonald (Departmental) (02) 6261 1555