Terrorists kill dozens in Mumbai

Gunmen shot up India's financial capital Wednesday, killing dozens of people, wounding scores more and taking others hostage.

Press Trust of India reports indiscriminate gunfire and explosions across Mumbai began about 10:30 p.m.

The BBC reported at least 80 people were killed and 250 wounded. Four suspected terrorists had been killed and nine arrested, the British network said. CNN reported 87 dead and 185 injured, with at least nine terrorists killed.

Attackers took hostages at two luxury hotels -- the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident -- where the BBC reported it was believed the armed men were holding dozens of hostages. CNN reported at least 7-15 people being held in one hotel.

Fire destroyed part of the Taj Mahal Palace, which was surrounded by government troops. Bullets and blasts were reported at as many as 16 locations in the western coastal metropolis throughout the day, with 11 police officers killed in firefights, the BBC said. The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit was among the dead, officials said.

A previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen said it was responsible for the sophisticated attacks but the authenticity of the claim had not been verified by authorities.

One witness told the BBC he saw a gunman shooting in the Taj Mahal lobby.

We all moved through the lobby in the opposite direction and another gunman then appeared toward where we were moving and he started firing immediately in our direction, the unnamed witness said.

One British tourist said she spent six hours barricaded in the Oberoi hotel.

There were about 20 or 30 people in each room. The doors were locked very quickly, the lights turned off, and everybody just lay very still on the floor, she said.

About 200 commandos were rushed from New Delhi to combat the attackers.

Local reports quoted a witness as saying the attackers sought people with British and U.S. passports.

A number of bombs also were defused before they could explode, police said.

In addition to the hotels, hospitals, a cafe and train station were attacked, police said. There was at least one report of an attack on the local airport on the outskirts of town as well.

The U.S. State Department and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued statements condemning the attacks and extending sympathies to the victims' families.

You must sign in to comment