'Terrorists planned to kill 5,000 people'

Terrorists who attacked Mumbai planned to kill 5,000 people, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said.

Terrorists who attacked Mumbai planned to kill 5,000 people, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said on Saturday.

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"So much of ammunition was found in their possession that it is evident they had plans to kill 5,000 people", Patil told a press conference in Mumbai.

Without specifying the exact quantum of ammunitions found with terrorists, Patil said "a terrorist Mohammad Aslam Kasam, caught alive, was found with heavy ammunitions. So, one can imagine that others also carried similar ammunitions."

"Police found a large quantity of hand grenades, bombs and hundreds of rounds with the terrorists," he said.

"Two boxes containing eight kg RDX each were found near the Taj hotel which was cleared of terrorists today," he said adding "it has been sent to forensic labs for confirmation".

"Terrorists had access to modern communication like GPS, satellite phone and mobile phones," Patil said.

Asked about the reports that terrorists were working in the city from the past few months, Patil said "they were not staying here. They came in the city on the day of the attack".

"They were having maps of the hotels but got directions over phone from another country," Patil said, refusing to name of the country.

Patil also denied involvement of any locals in the attacks or locals helping terrorists.

About the reports that terrorists were carrying credit cards, Patil said the investigation is on. He refuted reports that the terrorists were talking in Marathi.

Replying to a query, Patil denied outside agencies would be involved in the investigation.

A committee headed by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been set up to fulfill the demands of police force, he said.