Chalk up a big win for the terrorists. Not only did they execute a heinous plan with shocking effectiveness, but it also went on for days. Literally, for three days. And in doing so, they created a blue print for terrorists worldwide to follow in the future. They worked in pairs, they used guns and grenades and they spread out in several different locations. Sounds like the perfect plan of attack for a country like the US. And very hard to stop.

The 10 terrorists arrived in the city by water after taking over an Indian boat and killing the five sailors aboard. After landing in small rubber boats on an isolated beach, the casually dressed young men fanned out across the city. The walk took no longer than 15 minutes. They attacked 10 different locations in two hours. Most of the attacks ended quickly, but the battle at three locations went on for days, as they fought back against hundreds of Indian commandos.

They were very well trained. They knew the locations they were going to attack –– the best way to enter without being spotted, the layout of the basements and hallways and where guards would be. They also carried bags of almonds with them for nourishment.

At 9:30 p.m., the first terrorist attacked an Orthodox Chabad Lubavitch Center in a trendy neighborhood. The Jewish center was well known in the city. The terrorists would remain in the center for three days.

Just after 9:30 p.m., two terrorists attack a famous tourist hangout, Leopold Café and Bar. First they lobbed a grenade and then they opened fire. The attack lasted for about 2 minutes. At least 7 are dead and an unknown number are injured. During the chaos, people ran, so the total is not known. From there, the two terrorists jogged down the street to the Taj Mahal Hotel

They arrive at the hotel at 9:45 p.m. and open fire in the lobby. Again, people scatter, this time back into the hotel where they hide. Many would later be found and executed.

Two minutes later, two terrorists attack Mumbai’s main train station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. They started by shooting into a glass-fronted restaurant and continued through the station. As they shot and threw grenades, they were very calm, even stopping for discussions about what to do next. While one would reload, the other would keep watch.

By the time the attack at the train station was over, 53 people were killed. The terrorists escaped by stealing a truck.

At 10 p.m., two terrorists hit the Oberoi Hotel. It’s another luxury hotel popular with tourists. They, again, hit a restaurant first. After, they run into a second restaurant and shoot at the diners and waiters.

Then the two killers force those still alive into a stairway. They ask for identification in order to locate the Americans and Britons, who are then taken upstairs, where they will become hostages. Most people in the hotel hole up in their rooms.

Five minutes later, two terrorists attack a police station. Two bombs go off in other areas of the city, both in taxis. The terrorists then quickly move to a hospital, where they open fire. At that point, they wait behind a tree for a police vehicle to show up. As it pulls up, they shoot at the truck, killing most of the police and commandeering the truck. One of the officers killed is the Mumbai anti-terrorist chief. As the terrorists drive around the city, they laugh at the ineffectiveness of the police’s bulletproof vests and shoot out of the windows at journalists and police, until they are finally stopped.

Over the next couple of hours, police kill the three and capture one of the terrorists who had taken vehicles. But the night is filled with chaos as the police try to get an understanding of how large the attack is and where the terrorists are. The four in the hotels and the two at the Jewish Center are still holding hostages and fighting off police.

At 9 am the next day, police begin trying to take back the hotels. As they do, the terrorists begin killing hostages. They also set fires in the hotel and set off grenades. These are not your ordinary terrorists.

At 7 a.m. Friday morning, police launch an effort to take back the Jewish Center. They surround the building with sharpshooters, then land on the roof from helicopters and begin working their way down. Throughout the day, gunfire and explosions are heard. The building is finally taken back at 6 p.m. that night, after a police rocket takes out the upper floor. Nine are dead, including the Rabbi and his wife.

The operation at the Oberoi hotel is wrapping up. Hostages run from the building and are taken to hospitals. Police exit the building at 3 p.m. Friday and say the terrorists are dead. They killed 32 people. Hundreds of people were saved.

Throughout Friday night, fighting continues in the Taj Hotel. Journalists report from the street, as gunfire and explosions are heard in the hotel. The hotel catches fire again. At 8:30 a.m. the fight is over, after 60 hours of hell.

As authorities begin to look at what happened, doctors report many of the hostages were brutally tortured.

Over 195 people were killed, including at least 20 police officers and more than 141 civilians –– including 22 foreigners.

Some of the attackers are believed to have escaped. Shivraj Patil, the Indian home minister, resigns, as does India's national security adviser, MK Narayanan.

The scary thing is how simple this kind of attack is, especially if attempted in America. It would be more than easy to get the guns you would need to pull off an attack. It certainly would be easy to get into the country. This is clearly a blue print for future attacks. Bombs are more difficult to manufacture and pull off –– and once it happens it’s over. This was like a terrorist’s wet dream. It went on for days. I don’t care what city you live in, attacks in several different locations by several different men are going to cause chaos for the responders. That’s not the case with a bomb.

They trained their terrorists for urban warfare. They knew where to attack first to cause the most damage. They knew where and how the police would show up. They understood exactly where to go, both on the streets and in the buildings. They were heavily armed and brought food. They knew whom they wanted to kill and whom they didn’t. They entered large buildings full of people that would make them difficult to locate. Worst of all, it was very effective and went on for days.

From where I’m sitting, this is a very, very bad thing.

Oh, and I wonder where they learned their urban warfare tactics. Anyone know of any wars going on?


FearTheReaper is a writer, actor and stand up comedian. Check back each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for more from FearTheReaper and read his blog, Stop All Monsters.