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Who are the attackers?
Witnesses say the attackers were young South Asian men speaking Hindi or Urdu, suggesting they are probably Indian militants rather than foreigners.
The attacks were claimed by an unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen in an e-mail message to the media. Deccan is an area of southern India.
Analysts say the attacks were likely to have been carried out by a group called the Indian Mujahideen. The name used in the claim of responsibility suggests a South Indian offshoot or cell.
Who are the Indian Mujahideen?
The Indian police say the Indian Mujahideen are an offshoot of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), but that local Muslims appear to have been given training and backing from militant groups in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
SIMI was blamed, among other attacks, for explosions on commuter trains in Mumbai two years ago that killed 187. The Indian Mujahideen may include former members of a Bangladeshi militant group.
Why are they suspected?
In an e-mail message to the media in September, the group denounced Mumbai's police anti-terrorist squad (ATS), accusing them of harassing Muslims.
"If this is the degree your arrogance has reached, and if you think that by these stunts you can scare us, then let the Indian Mujahideen warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks you face in future, their responsibility would lie with the Mumbai ATS and their guardians," it said.
The group has made credible claims of responsibility for most recent major attacks on civilian targets in India. The Mumbai attacks were coordinated, well-planned and involved a large number of attackers.
A high level of sophistication is a hallmark of Indian Mujahideen strikes.
The Mumbai attacks also focused clearly on tourist targets, including two luxury hotels and a famous cafe.
In May, the Indian Mujahideen made a specific threat to attack tourist sites unless the government stopped supporting the United States.
Witnesses in Mumbai say the attackers singled out Americans and Britons.
What other attacks have Indian Mujahideen carried out?
The group first emerged during a wave of bombings in northern Uttar Pradesh state in November last year.
Next came the Jaipur blasts in May, when 63 died. In July, 16 bombs exploded in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing 45 and wounding 161.
In September, at least five bombs exploded in crowded markets and streets in New Delhi, killing at least 18 people.
What was different about the Mumbai attacks?
All previous incidents in which the Indian Mujahideen are suspected of involvement included coordinated bombings. The Mumbai attacks were carried out by gunmen, some carrying grenades.
The tactics - a military-style assault on soft targets, singling out foreigners and taking hostages - do not fit the usual militant attacks on civilian areas.
Where attackers struck
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