WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it designated the Indian Mujahedin, suspected in July bombings in Mumbai, as a foreign terrorist organization.
More than 120 people were injured and 19 people were killed in a July 13 triple attack in Mumbai. The Indian Mujahedin was named as a suspect in the bombings given the nature of the devices used.
The State Department, in its listing of the group as a terrorist organization, said Indian Mujahedin's primary method of attack is multiple, coordinated bombings. The group is tied to Pakistani terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami.
U.S. Ambassador to India Daniel Benjamin said the group poses a threat not only to Western interests but Washington's partners in India.
"The Indian populace has borne the brunt of IM's wanton violence and today's actions illustrate our solidarity with the Indian government," he said in a statement.
The designation follows hearings on Indian counter-terrorism initiatives at the U.S. House Foreign Affairs committee.
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of a House subcommittee on terrorism, said greater security cooperation with India is needed.
"There are real, hard U.S. interests at stake," he said in his testimony. "Simply put, the militants targeting India are also targeting us."
