Deccan Mujahideen

A group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, on November 26, 2008. Security analysts say they do not know if the Deccen Mujahideen is affiliated with an existing group or if they are new. Sajjan Gohel, a London security expert said that Deccan Mujahideen was likely a "front name" and questioned the group's existence.The New York Times: Sophisticated Attacks, but by Whom? (November 27, 2008)

On November 28, 2008, a group claiming to be "Mujahideen Hyderabad Deccan" sent an email to news organizations in India titled "Not the Warning but the Fact." The group took credit for the attacks in the letter, citing the "continuing injustice against the Muslims" as their reasoning for the violence.WSJ.com: Translation of Message From 'Deccan Mujahideen' "Deccan" may refer either to a neighborhood in the Indian city of Hyderabad, or to the Deccan Plateau in southern India.International Herald Tribune: Sophisticated attacks, but Qaeda link disputed (November 27, 2008)

Intelligence officials in both India and the United States are investigating whether the group is affiliated with the Indian Mujahideen, a group threatened to carry out an attack on Mumbai in September 2008. They are also considering that the group may be affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic extremist organization that has been responsible for prior attacks in India, including a train attack in July 2006.CNN: Who is to Blame for Mumbai Attacks? (November 27, 2008) Lashkar-e-Taiba translates to "Army of the Pure."CNN: Who is to Blame for Mumbai Attacks? (November 27, 2008)