MUMBAI, Dec 1: Indian investigators claimed on Monday the militants who attacked Mumbai had months of commando training in Pakistan.

Two senior Indian investigators told Reuters that evidence from the interrogation of Azam Amir Kasav, the only gunman of the 10 not killed by commandos, showed that Pakistani militants had a hand in the attack.

The clean-shaven, 21-year-old with fluent English, has said his team “took orders from their command in Pakistan”, police officials alleged.

The training was organised by the Lashkar-i-Tayyaba group and conducted by a former member of the Pakistani army, an officer close to the probe alleged.

Police denied reports the men had rented an apartment in Mumbai or even stayed at the Taj hotel before the attack, but said they appeared to have had some support from locals.

“They appeared to have known the hotel well, but then the construction layout of the hotel is available on their website — complete with the levels, fire-exit plan and everything,” a deputy police commissioner who declined to be named said.

More difficult to plan without local help was assault on the Jewish religious and social centre at Nariman House.

“Nariman House is not even on the main road,” the police officer said. “One can’t locate it right away if one didn’t have specific directions.”—Agencies