Hundreds in Naperville pay tribute to victims of Mumbai attacks

For Mendy Goldstein, last month's terror attacks in India hit just a little too close to home.

Goldstein, a rabbi who runs the Chabad Jewish Center of Naperville, lost a close neighborhood friend who ran a similar outreach program in Mumbai with his wife.

"These were truly good people and their lives came to an end because of an act of terror," Goldstein said to a packed crowd of people Sunday in Naperville's city hall. "But we will fight with goodness and kindness. The power of love is stronger and more durable than the power of hate."

Hundreds of members of the Indian community packed into the city council chambers to pay respects to the victims of last month's terror attacks.

Mayor George Pradel lit a candle, and spectators were invited to place flowers on a table in front of the room in honor of more than 170 people who died and more than 230 injured during the attacks, which took place over four days from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 in the country's financial capital.

"The city condemns these acts of terror and stands with our Indian community," Pradel told the audience. "The wounded are in our thoughts and prayers. We are here to show our support and solidarity."

Ashok Kumar Attri, India's consul general for Chicago, told the audience the attackers would be brought to justice.

"The perpetrators of these crimes attacked a free society which lives in peace and harmony," he said. "These are the values which were attacked. We are confident such hate will never succeed in dividing our society."