Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said "terrorists" were behind the July 11 bombings.

Suspicion quickly fell on Kashmiri militants who have in the past carried out near-simultaneous attacks on Indian cities, including bombings last year at three markets in New Delhi, which killed 59 people.

Pakistan, India's rival over the disputed territory of Kashmir, quickly condemned the bombings, but analysts said a Kashmiri link could slow -- or even derail -- the peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Security was tightened in cities around the world from New Delhi to New York after the eight blasts, which struck seven trains within minutes of each other. The bombings appeared timed to inflict maximum carnage in the city of 16 million, more than 6 million of whom ride the crowded rail network daily.

The first bombing hit a train at Bandra station at 6:20 p.m. The blasts followed down the line of the Western Railway at or near stations at Khar, Jogeshwari, Mahim, Mira Road, Matunga and finally Borivili, which was struck by two blasts at 6:35 p.m., according to the Star News channel. However, other reports gave different timelines.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 15, 2006
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