Herbert Thomas Reiner Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 21, 1916 |
| Died | December 28, 1999 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Career diplomat |
| Known for | Capturing the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi |
Herbert Thomas "Tom" Reiner Jr. (September 21, 1916 – December 28, 1999) was an American career diplomat who, while on a posting in India from 1947 to 1949, played a key role in capturing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse. Reiner was among those present when Godse fatally shot Gandhi at an evening prayer meeting in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. Moments after the shooting, while the attending crowd was still in shock, Reiner rushed forward, grasping Godse by the shoulders, and restraining him until military and police personnel took him away. In the days following, Reiner's action was reported in newspapers around the world.