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North West MEP arrives home after terrorist ordeal
10:39pm Friday 28th November 2008
A North West Euro MP trapped by terrorists in a Mumbai hotel tonight landed home on British soil amid emotional scenes.
Sajjad Karim, 38, was staying at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel when terrorists stormed the building.
The Conservative MEP, who lives in Simonstone and grew up in Brierfield in Pendle, was among the first people to describe the unfolding horror to the media by mobile phone as he hid from the gun men in a barricaded basement room.
Tonight he was embraced warmly by family and friends who wept openly on meeting him after he landed at Manchester Airport.
Hugging his two children Bilal, eight, and Rabia, six, Mr Karim said he was delighted to be home after flying back via Paris and London.
He said: "I am delighted and very pleased to be back, and really appreciative of all the messages of goodwill I have had.
"It is great to see everybody.
"I think now I am going to take a few days to reflect and think through things.
"I need a few days to get back with my family and spend some time with everybody and just let things settle down."
Mr Karim said he would not comment or speculate on who was behind the terror attacks but wanted "to wait for the authorities to carry out a full investigation".
He had been in Mumbai as part of a deputation ahead of an EU-India summit.
Speaking about his experience, Mr Karim said: "Obviously it was a situation you can never prepare yourself for.
"It is quite a desperate situation.
"It is an ongoing and developing situation even now.
"It's simply the sort of thing you just have to get through.
"There is no other way of describing it."
Mr Karim's father, Fazal Karim, 72, said it was the 'happiest day of his life' to see his son again.
He said: "I am such a relieved man.
"The last few days have been terrible.
"Though he is home, my thoughts are now with those who are still there.
"It has been the worst experience of my life and I wonder how people can do such wicked things to others.
"It was quite unreal. It was the sort of thing you see on TV."
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HUGS: Sajjad Karim with his daughter Rabia, six, other family members, friends and well-wishers at Manchester Airport after his return home last night
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Pendle BNP, Pendle says...
11:54am Mon 8 Dec 08
Azam Amir Kasab, 21, from Pakistan, said the attacks were planned six months ago and were intended to kill 5,000 people. Surviving the massacre after trying to flee, the Pakistani-born terrorist has made a full confession to police.
He revealed that the ten terrorists, who were highly trained in marine assault and crept into the city by boat, had planned to blow up the Taj Mahal Palace hotel after first executing British and American tourists and then taking hostages.
He described how its mastermind briefed the group to “target whites, preferably Americans and British.”
Please visit our blog for discussion, News and information on a range of different issues concerning Pendle and the surrounding area.
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