Co-Conspirator of the Mumbai Terror Attacks Extradited to India

By Lauren Ho

This past week, Tahawwur Hussain Rana was extradited from the United States to face criminal charges in India for involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks. Beginning November 26, 2008, the nation of India experienced a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Ten militant members of the Pakastani group the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) conducted twelve deadly attacks through bombings and shootings. On the 29th , three days after the attacks began, Indian security ended the attacks. The death toll climbed to 166, with hundreds more being seriously injured. The coordinated attacks involved multiple individuals with one of the conspirators being Rana, a Canadian citizen but Pakistan native.

Rana was found to be aiding a childhood friend, David Headley, in fraudulent travel documentation to go to India for surveillance purposes. Headley was also a member of LeT and was in communication with the terrorist about his activities. Under the advisement of LeT, Rana and Headley aided in the planning of the terror attack. Additionally, after the attacks occurred, Rana’s communications revealed that he told Headley that the terrorists who died in the attack should be awarded highest honors. In 2020, India requested the extradition of Rana from the United States to face the charges against him. However, it was not until February of 2025 that the request to move him was approved by President Trump which led to Rana’s extradition this past week.