U.S. sends India man who enabled 2008 Mumbai terror attacks

The Justice Department on Wednesday extradited a conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, to India. Rana is a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan. He was previously convicted in the United States for his role in the series of shootings and bombings that killed over 150 people. Rana faces 10 criminal charges in India related to the attacks, including conspiracy, murder, and terrorism, the Justice Department said.

Indian authorities allege that Rana helped the terrorist David Coleman Headley travel to Mumbai to survey sites for the attacks. Rana allegedly opened a Mumbai branch of his business and appointed Headley to manage it. India says Rana falsified various documents to accomplish that goal. He also allegedly met with Headley frequently to discuss attack plans, according to the Justice Department.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was glad to partner with India in seeking justice for the 166 people, including six Americans, who died in the attacks.

What happened in the attacks? Ten members of the Laskhar-e-Tayyiba terrorist organization carried out 12 attacks in Mumbai between November 26 and 29, 2008. They shot people, threw grenades, and detonated explosives in public locations including a hotel, train station, and Jewish community center. One hundred sixty-six victims, in addition to most of the terrorists involved, died in the attacks. Hundreds more were wounded, and Mumbai sustained more than $1.5 billion in property damage, according to the Justice Department.

Why was Rana in the United States? Rana was serving a 14-year prison sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2013 of helping the terrorist organization plan the Mumbai attacks and several other plots. India requested Rana’s extradition in 2020, but Rana fought the order until April 7, 2025, when the Supreme Court denied his request for a stay of extradition.