By IANS,
New York : The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum foundation in the US has said those killed and injured in the last week’s “cowardly” terrorist attack in Mumbai were just like the victims of 9/11 – “ordinary people”.
New York-based National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, a non-profit organisation, is entrusted with the task of creating a permanent memorial and museum at World Trade Center site in Manhattan, which was destroyed by terrorists in September 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people and injuring more than 6,000.
“We witnessed a cowardly terrorist attack in Mumbai, aimed at destroying innocent lives,” said Joe Daniels, its president and CEO, in an email to its members Monday.
“These victims were, like the victims of 9/11, ordinary people, living their everyday lives,” he wrote.
“What is the explanation to be given to two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg about why he will now grow up without parents, Rivkah and Rabbi Gavriel, both of whom were murdered at a Jewish Center in Mumbai?” Daniels wrote with a lot of pain and anguish.
“Or to all the families of the victims who, as of this time, are known to have come from India, the US, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Australia?” he said.
People in India and the world over say that last week’s terrorist attack in Mumbai which killed 183 people including 22 foreign nationals was India’s 9/11.
“As difficult as it sometimes can be in the wake of such senseless violence, we need to remind ourselves of the inspiring heroism and self-sacrifice that evidences itself in response to attacks like those witnessed in Mumbai,” Daniels said.
“As we spend time with family and friends and remember those who are no longer with us, I want to extend, on behalf of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, our thoughts and prayers to the Indian people and to the families and friends of those killed in Mumbai who must now endure without their loved ones,” he said.
Daniels urged people to do whatever they can to counter such terror tactics.
“We must do our part in erasing the intentions of these attacks by upholding our societal values and in making the affirmative choice to better our world. None of us will ever forget that after 9/11 people from across the country and around the world did whatever they could to help with recovery and renewal efforts,” he said.