Technology trails of 26/11 revisited

BANGALORE, INDIA: One year has passed since the terrorists shook the world with the terror strike in Mumbai, which took over 160 lives. It was a strike that gave yet another term in the lexicon: 26/11. And the investigations and reports into the gory incident have revealed they way the accused gunmen used technology for their mission.

The terrorists were said to have used Google Earth service to understand their as well as the target's locations in Mumbai. They are even said to have similar navigation system to enter Indian borders, through waterways. Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader, Syed Abdul Rehman, is said to have learnt Google Earth service last year, weeks before their strike on India.

Post the Mumbai attack, when we asked the question, 'Is technology a toy in the hands of terrorists?', it was not well received. There were apprehensions as to how can technology can help terrorists. But the later developments showed the question was very much justified.

The terrorists communicated with their counterparts in other parts of the country and other countries, through satellite phone. These were reportedly manufactured by Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer of satellite phones called Thuraya.

The militants used satellite phones to ensure connectivity in any location and to ensure that there was no record of conversations between them and their handlers in Pakistan. They even negotiated and bargained with the hostages using the satellite phone.

It was, no doubt, a terror strike with a tech backbone.

And the latest development pertaining to Lashkar-e-Tayyeba operative David Coleman Headley's role in the attack also points to the way the terror minds used technology to make possible the 'anonymous' communication. It is said that he had used a satellite phone during his stay in Delhi and other places.

But, interestingly, the movement of the hi-tech terrorists were traced with the help of technology. Investigators are trying to get more details about the terror mission by procuring the records and transcript of the conversation took place between terrorists before and after the terror strike.

In fact, post the terror incident, officials is said to exploring into ways to monitor and jam satellite phone communications in India also.