Tahawwur Hussain Rana
Tahawwur Hussain Rana | |
|---|---|
Tahawwur Rana in 2008. | |
| Born | 12 January 1961 |
| Nationality | Pakistan Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Pakistan Army Former Doctor for the Pakistan Army Medical Corps (Captain) Businessman Member of Lashkar-e-Taiba |
| Known for | 2008 Mumbai attacks |
| Criminal status | Extradited to India |
| Motive | Islamic Terrorism |
| Convictions | Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists in Denmark (18 U.S.C. § 2339A) Providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (18 U.S.C. § 2339B) |
| Criminal penalty | 14 years imprisonment |
Capture status | In Custody with the National Investigation Agency |
Tahawwur Hussain Rana (Urdu: تہوّر حسین رانا) (born 12 January 1961) is a Pakistani-Canadian terrorist, businessman and former military doctor, who is known for his involvement in terrorism-related activities. He was a member of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and was implicated in several high-profile terrorist plots, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India and a foiled attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2009. He initially served as a doctor ranking as a Captain in the Pakistan Army before emigrating to Canada in the late 1990s. After obtaining Canadian citizenship, he settled in Chicago, where he operated various businesses, including an immigration consultancy.
In 2009, Rana was arrested in connection with his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed over 160 people. He was also linked to an attempted attack on Jyllands-Posten, which had published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Rana was charged with 12 offenses, among them being accused of aiding and abetting in the killing of American citizens. Although Rana was acquitted by a U.S. court of direct participation in the Mumbai attacks, he was convicted of providing material support for terrorism, including helping his co-conspirator, David Headley, plan both the Mumbai and Copenhagen attacks. Rana was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2013. Rana and Headley were given a trial in absentia in a Bombay High Court for their involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Indian authorities actively sought extradition for both.
Rana’s case garnered international attention due to his connections to global terrorism networks and the involvement of former military personnel in extremist activities. In 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States approved his extradition to India for his role in the Mumbai attacks, a decision confirmed by President Donald Trump in February 2025.
Rana was extradited to India by the United States on 9 April 2025 for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. After arriving in India, Rana was sent into custody with the NIA.