Horror in Mumbai: Inside a terrorist attack and the mind of Synchronicity

Horror in Mumbai: Inside a terrorist attack and the mind of Synchronicity

"Loud gunshots."

That was the first sign of trouble for Charles Cannon, the spiritual leader of the Nelson County-based Synchronicity Foundation who had traveled to the luxurious Oberoi Hotel in downtown Mumbai, India with two dozen fellow peace-seekers. Their late November spiritual journey of meditation and enlightenment was on a collision course with an international terrorism incident that left more than 150 dead, including two of their own. 

As Cannon and several followers huddled in his 12th floor hotel suite, explosions and gunshots rang out below. Downstairs, Synchronicity vice president Alan Scherr, 58, and his 13-year-old daughter, Naomi, were caught in the gunfire that erupted while they dined in the restaurant adjacent to the soaring hotel atrium.

4Better Or Worse

• 4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review

The Dish

• FOOD- THE DISH- Purple people feeder: Main Street Market grows

  Charles Roumeliotes puts the final touches on Calvino Cafe, which opened in the Main Street Market this week, as its namesake strikes a pensive pose in a photo behind him.P...

Essays

• ESSAY- Burst bubble: Why oil fell and where it's going

Question of the Week

• QUESTION OF THE WEEK- Where were you when you heard about the attacks in Mumbai?

Real Estate

• REAL ESTATE- GIMME SHELTER- Party favors: Ring in the New Year in style

Real Estate - On the Block

• REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Batesville perch: No McMansions in charming outpost

Movie Reviews

• MOVIE REVIEW- Get <i>Milk</i> : Penn gives award-worthy performance

On Architecture

• Before and After: 400 Preston gets extreme make-over

The Brazen Careerist

• THE BRAZEN CAREERIST- Grinning crones: Young women can plan for old-age happiness

Strange But True

• STRANGE BUT TRUE- Weird scientist: What if they don't really wear lab coats?

Full Stories List for December 11th, 2008 issue #0750

• DRHOOK- Crestor smile: Drug slashes health risks

• FOOD- THE EATER- Nacho heaven: No pretense at Divide

• REALESTATE- UPDATE- OFF THE BLOCK

• THE SPORTS DOCTOR- Why not? Think before you ask the computer

• THE TOUGH CUSTOMER- Update: Gas pains and loan scams

On Architecture

• Before and After: 400 Preston gets extreme make-over

4Better Or Worse

• 4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review

News

• Art-o-maton: Keene churns up the volume

• Bitter ousting: Minor fires Danielson from Landmark project

• Mall blues: East end loses another business

• Boston competes with C'ville

• Dani's day: Murder trial begins with painful photos

• I-64 shootings: Slade Woodson pleads-- for new attorney

• Missionary imposition: H'burg evangelist allegedly taped EMUers

• Baez, DiFranco book back-to-back nights at Paramount

• Gaffney undrained: Confident water boss seeks fourth term

• Gauntlet thrown? County rejects alternate water sources

• Settle sign off: Newsplex anchor heads to capital

• Shrink scrap: City reverses plan to squeeze Mall cafÃ?© spaces

• County red ink hits $7.2 million

• 15 jobs chopped at Staunton newspaper

• Harvard tops UVA, loses 22%

Cartoons

• CARTOONS

Cover Stories

• COVER- Horror in Mumbai: Inside a terrorist attack and the mind of Synchronicity

Essays

• ESSAY- Burst bubble: Why oil fell and where it's going

Movie Reviews

• MOVIE REVIEW- Get <i>Milk</i> : Penn gives award-worthy performance

Question of the Week

• QUESTION OF THE WEEK- Where were you when you heard about the attacks in Mumbai?

Real Estate

• REAL ESTATE- GIMME SHELTER- Party favors: Ring in the New Year in style

Real Estate - On the Block

• REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Batesville perch: No McMansions in charming outpost

Strange But True

• STRANGE BUT TRUE- Weird scientist: What if they don't really wear lab coats?

The Brazen Careerist

• THE BRAZEN CAREERIST- Grinning crones: Young women can plan for old-age happiness

The Dish

• FOOD- THE DISH- Purple people feeder: Main Street Market grows