If terrorism is a targeted act of violence against civilians designed to have a random and multiplying effect, then the attackers in Mumbai have learnt the formula well. These savage, co-ordinated assaults will probably do more damage to India and its commercial capital than a string of previous atrocities.

Just over two years ago, Mumbai paid a (for now) higher cost in lives after its suburban train system was bombed, but picked itself up and moved on. This time, the targeting of two landmark luxury hotels, the Taj and the Oberoi, has given the terrorists an international mutiplier – as does their apparent singling out of Americans, Britons and Jews.