Photographer Who Took Mumbai Attacker Picture: 'I Wish I'd Had A Gun Not A Camera'

Belfast Telegraph:

It is the photograph that has dominated the world's front pages, casting an astonishing light on the fresh-faced killers who brought terror to the heart of India's most vibrant city. Now it can be revealed how the astonishing picture came to be taken by a newspaper photographer who hid inside a train carriage as gunfire erupted all around him.

Sebastian D'Souza, a picture editor at the Mumbai Mirror, whose offices are just opposite the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji station, heard the gunfire erupt and ran towards the terminus. "I ran into the first carriage of one of the trains on the platform to try and get a shot but couldn't get a good angle, so I moved to the second carriage and waited for the gunmen to walk by," he said. "They were shooting from waist height and fired at anything that moved. I briefly had time to take a couple of frames using a telephoto lens. I think they saw me taking photographs but theydidn't seem to care."

Read the whole story: Belfast Telegraph

Comments

[Yola]

Well, it is a good thing he had a camera and not a gun since this kid is the only survivor left to spill the beans on this terrorist network.

[cmk1967]

Kind of a selfish statement don't you think. Would you feel the same way had it been a love one of yours he killed after the picture was taken.

[Ted LPD]

When the cats get out, the mice jump to the floor. People are dead and you are telling us you wanted a gun instead of a camera to further confuse the situation? I can't imagine trying to identify a terrorist in the hotel.

What is the difference between a terrorist and a law abiding civilian. A terrorist has a gun!

[HisXLNC]

Considering the pitiful reaction of the police, I don't think there would have been any confusion. There was no one there to confuse a terrorist with a civilian.

[Ted LPD]

Yeah! But you can't regret if it was not your job. What if you had a gun and put others near you in danger?
You would be a terrorist too. And the forces could kill both of you. Your camara saved your life so please thank God.

India is not a lawless country, is it?

[HisXLNC]

By the time the "forces" showed up, the photographer would have been out of ammo or already dead.

[nefertiti]

Notice the saffron , red Looking thead He wears around the wrist , that s religious thing in Hiduism , muslims do not wear that .

[Essentialboom]

I am not surprised to hear of the police being scared to fight back. When the army first came in it looked like the soldiers were scared and moving very squeamishly. i know fear is a human trait but I would expect the army to have a little bit more confidence in themselves. However, the commandos that I saw later seemed very confident and capable..

[PSM42]

The BJP have a few questions to answer ...

Mumbai Massacres as the Defeat of Counter-terrorism. http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m49155&hd=&size=1&l=e

The Attack in Mumbai II http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m49135&hd=&size=1&l=e

That orange wristband he's wearing - a hindu symbol. "Who would have thought it" etc.

[pardesi]

I wish he had taken the photographs of the policemen and published them. I am sure he can track them down and ask them to pose. It is possible the guns were fake and the Mumbai police did not have any money?

[TopDog]

F*@k um!

[HalBrown]

FROM A FORMER RESERVE COP: The average police shooter ought to be able to reliably hit a target 50 feet away if he's able to take aim carefully. Thus even if second terrorist shot him at least ONE would have been eliminated.

All the police I know, and having had been a reserve police for 20 years that's a lot, would have used their weapons if they possibly could. They would have moved CLOSER if they could have to get a better shot.

A reasonably well trained armed civilian or off-duty police or military would have had the element of SURPRISE if they were close to any of the terrorists. When I discuss the carrying a concealed weapons with friends thinking of getting their permits I tell them that if they are ever in a situation where they can stop someone who has already started shooting someone else, it is always preferable to shoot them in the back.

If you carry a gun my opinion is that it is a right that comes with grave responsibilities whether a police officer or civilian. I am decidedly ambivalent about those who want to carry a concealed weapon JUST for self-defense.

[MagisterLudi]

Informative post. I am not sure it would such a good idea for a cop or a civilian with a hand-gun to engage several well- trained terr-ists with AKs and hand-gr-nades. It WOULD be heroic tho,' Just like cops everywhere, they'd rather wait for the SWAT or counter-terr-rist unit to arrive.

[TruthaboutIraq]

That young guy looks just like a filipino guy I once worked with.

[Rondo]

Don't tell us call the FBI

[TruthaboutIraq]

The ki l l e rs wore red wrist bands.....­..........­....photos at

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com

Sign of H in du extr em ists......­..not M US LI M!

[max]

wrong

[MagisterLudi]

VietVet mechanic, your lies stink from mile away. As usual.

[lungfish]

Strange comment about the Indian police.... I have a hard time imagining them hiding from much of anything nor could I see them allowing themselves and others to be shot...
hmmmmmmm..­...

[ObjectiveRealist]

I'm not claiming to be an expert but I think any police force in the world is trained to wait for enough reinforcements to pose an overwhelming force.

[Judyisacutie]

That guy does not look Indian too me. He's got black hair and dark skin and that's about it.

[hexham]

as a rare gun loving democrat, I wish that photog had a gun on him AND a camera.

sounds like all Indian police need better training. abysmal response!

[stj]

Is it just me or does that picture look photoshopped?

[kellygrrrl]

actually, it looks like an everyday primetime tv location shoot

[hexham]

its just you

[Ty90]

It's just you. There isn't even anything to be gained from photoshopping a picture like this.