Editor's Note: M.J. Gohel is executive director of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, an independent intelligence and security think tank based in London, England. His son, Sajjan Gohel, is director for international security at the foundation. They provide analysis to the media, government agencies and military departments. M.J. Gohel, left, and Sajjan Gohel say the attacks had the hallmarks of a transnational group. LONDON, England (CNN) -- The Indian media have described the Mumbai terrorist siege as India's 9/11. The targets for the attacks, many of them symbols of Mumbai's growing power and wealth, were not randomly selected and were intended to send a direct message to India, Israel and the West.
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Gohels: Some in the media are calling Mumbai attacks India's 9/11
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They say attacks bore signs of transnational group inspired by al Qaeda
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Mumbai siege lingered primarily because gunmen had taken hostages, Gohels say
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Mumbai may have been targeted due to higher security elsewhere, they say
Indian authorities are accusing the group of being tied to the recent attacks in @placeholder.