mumbai

I was staying at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai when the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya was destroyed by Hindu nationalists on December 6th, 1992. I reported from the hotel to RTHK, BBC Radio HK, and remember clearly describing how India Gate was deserted and a city that was normally in perpetual motion had been stalled. I travelled through the city with Indian film maker, Vasudha Joshi, and witnessed the city under siege. It was anticipated the riots at Ayodhya would spread to south - thankfully they didn't and within days the city was back to it's chaotic self.

The shocking events of the past 24 four hours have captivated me in a peculiar way. As did the weird firework display of the first Gulf War - and later, two Boeing 767 jets flying headlong into the twin towers, New York. Something strangely familiar. Fact or fiction?

A major 21st Century metropolis brought to a screaming halt by an extremely well organised, informed, efficient and fanatical group. The targets : high finance and religion.