Mumbai under terror siege

Some of the gunmen who went on a killing spree for hours in India's financial capital Mumbai were holed up Thursday with hostages in two luxury hotels.

Indian army and paramilitary commandos took positions to flush them out from the Oberoi and the Taj Mahal hotels, both frequented by foreigners, local television reports said.

It was not clear how many gunmen were hiding in the hotels. CNN reported at least 7-15 people being held in one hotel.

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

Indian television channels reported smoke was billowing from one wing of the Taj, where there had been a fire. Firefighters also were busy evacuating hotel guests.

The hostage drama at the hotels climaxed an overnight rampage in which a number of heavily armed gunmen attacked the city at 10 places with explosives and indiscriminate firing, killing and wounding nearly 300 people, various reports said.

The Press Trust of India put the death toll at 80. CNN, quoting Mumbai police spokesman Satish Katsa, said at least 87 had died and another 185 were wounded. The BBC reported the number of injured at 250.

CNN also reported nine of the attackers had been killed. Other reports said nine suspected gunmen had been arrested.

Among those killed in the attacks were 11 police officers and the head of the city's anti-terrorism squad, other officials said.

Alan Jones, a British businessman, told CNN he was about to get out of an elevator at the Oberoi hotel, when a Japanese guest was shot in the leg.

CNN reported some Indian news outlets had received e-mails saying a group calling itself the Deccan Mujahedeen took responsibility for the attacks, but that it was not able to verify the reports.

Late in the morning, one Indian TV channel reported a boat with explosives and arms had been found, indicating the gunmen may have come by sea to enter the city.

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