A Quantitative Assessment on 26/11 Mumbai Attack using Social Network Analysis

Authors

  • Sarita Azad
  • Arvind Gupta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15664/jtr.187

Keywords:

social network analysis, terrorism, mathematical models, 26/11 Mumbai attack

Abstract

This paper analyses, the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, popularly known as 26/11 terror attacks, as per a mathematical technique known as Social Network Analysis (SNA). This analysis of the behaviour of the ten attackers and their telephonic communications with their handlers in Pakistan even as the attacks were in progress is based on the open source information. Using the SNA technique, we identify the key members, sub-groups, and the interaction among the various members of the group. The analysis gives useful insights into the modus operandi of the terrorists.  We have found that a star-type structure of hierarchy prevailed during the attack which means terrorists were well connected through a central node.

Author Biographies

Sarita Azad

Dr  Sarita Azad is a researcher at Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India, where she is employing mathematical and statistical techniques in various applications related to International Relations. She received her Masters (Mathematics) from the Indian Institute of Technology (IITD), Delhi, India, in 1999. She did her Ph.D (2008) in Applied Mathematics from Delhi University, India, under Professor Roddam Narasimha (FRS) from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. She was visiting fellow at University of Cambridge, UK (2009).

Arvind Gupta

Dr. Arvind Gupta holds the Lal Bahadur Shastri Chair at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India, where he leads the Internal Security Cluster. A member of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), he has wide ranging diplomatic experience. He has also served in India’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and dealt with national and international security issues. He received a Ph.D in International Relations  from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1993.

JTR Volume 2, Issue 2

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Published

2011-10-30

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Articles

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