Authorities increase security at Mumbai’s Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport

On 10 June 2010 authorities heightened security at Mumbai’s Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport (VABB/BOM) following intelligence reports that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant group, may attempt to hijack an aircraft. Passengers at Mumbai’s airport will likely be subject to additional security checks both inside the terminal and on the main road leading to the facility. The report that prompted the increased security stated that LeT may make a hijacking attempt within the next 10 days in order to use the hostages to negotiate the release of Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman from the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai. Indian officials are concerned that LeT may try to replicate a hijacking incident that occurred in December 1999 in which the hijackers forced an Indian Airlines aircraft to fly to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan; the Indian government eventually agreed to release high-level militants in exchange for the passengers. Authorities also increased security at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (VAAH/AMD) on 11 June in response to an unspecified terror threat. It is not known whether hijacking concerns prompted the alert at the airport.