Mumbai's history of deadly bombings

The twin explosions, both in packed streets, created widespread panic in Mumbai (Bombay) just short of six years ago.

Bazaars fell silent and shops closed, classrooms were empty and offices left with skeleton staff.

Residents of Mumbai - a city of 18 million people - were shocked.

But they had been shocked before. Mumbai has a long history of bombings.

Back in 1993, 12 March became a black Friday for the city when 12 bombs went off one after another.

More than 250 people died and the city was left with a permanent scar on its history.

City landmarks, such as the Bombay Stock Exchange, were badly damaged.

The attacks were blamed on Mumbai's Muslim-dominated underworld following Hindu-Muslim riots and 100 people were convicted for taking part - some receiving death penalties.

The 1993 bombings were a sign of things to come.

Anti-Muslim riots

There was a hiatus of nine years. Then, soon after the anti-Muslim Gujarat riots in February 2002, bomb attacks in Mumbai became almost became commonplace.

They were said to be in the name of avenging the killings of Muslims in Gujarat.

On 6 December that year, a bomb went off on a bus killing two people and wounding 28.

The following year there were four bomb attacks, including the twin blasts on 25 August which killed 52 people - the highest death toll that year.

On 11 July 2006, seven well-orchestrated blasts on commuter trains during the evening rush hour broke the long silence and caused chaos across the city.

Nearly 200 people lost their lives and scores were wounded.

Then, between 26-28 November 2008, a group of gunmen targeted six locations in Mumbai killing at least 170 people in a series of co-ordinated attacks.

India has accused Pakistan-based fighters from the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of carrying out the attacks.

Shahid Azmi, lawyer for the three people given death sentences on Thursday for their role in the 2003 twin bomb blasts, says he will challenge the verdict in Mumbai's High Court.

Constitutional experts say the maximum punishment is given to deter future attacks.

But Mr Azmi says that harsh punishments to those who consider death as martyrdom are no deterrent.

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