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Mumbai rocked by deadly shootings Mumbai rocked by deadly shootings
(10 minutes later)
Gunmen have opened fire at a number of sites in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 78 people and injuring about 200 more.Gunmen have opened fire at a number of sites in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 78 people and injuring about 200 more.
Police said shooting was continuing and that the incidents were co-ordinated terrorist attacks. Gunmen had taken hostages at two hotels, they said. Police said shooting was continuing and that the incidents were co-ordinated terrorist attacks. Gunmen have taken hostages at two luxury hotels.
At least seven sites have been targeted across India's financial capital.At least seven sites have been targeted across India's financial capital.
There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead. A fire is sweeping through the Taj Palace, Mumbai's most famous hotel which is now surrounded by troops.
Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists. The BBC's Andrew Whitehead says a claim of responsibility by a little-known group, Deccan Mujhaideen, may harden suspicions that Islamic radicals are involved.
See detailed map of the area See detailed map of the area
On Wednesday, gunmen opened fire at about 2300 local time at sites in southern Mumbai including a train station, two five-star hotels, a hospital and a restaurant popular with tourists. But there are other possible culprits, our correspondent says.
The motive, far from clear - but the attacks come amid elections in several Indian states, including in disputed Kashmir.
In the latest developments:In the latest developments:
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  • A group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the shootings, local media say
  • Commandos have surrounded two hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi, where gunmen are reported to be holding dozens of hostages, including foreigners
  • A fire is said to be spreading through the Taj Mahal hotel
  • A witness told local television that the gunmen were looking for people with British or US passports
  • The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit is among those killed, according to local TV
  • At least two blasts, suspected to be grenade attacks, have been reported
  • The US has condemned the attacks and said it was seeking more information
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    • Commandos have surrounded two hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi, where gunmen are reported to be holding dozens of hostages, including foreigners
    • A fire appears to be spreading through the Taj Mahal hotel
    • A witness told local television that the gunmen were looking for people with British or US passports
    • The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit is among those killed, according to local TV
    • At least two blasts, suspected to be grenade attacks, have been reported
    • The US and the UK have both condemned the attacks
    On Wednesday, gunmen opened fire at about 2300 local time at sites in southern Mumbai including a train station, two five-star hotels, a hospital and a restaurant popular with tourists.
    Police said the gunmen had fired indiscriminately.Police said the gunmen had fired indiscriminately.
    "The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed," said AN Roy, police commissioner of Maharashtra state."The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed," said AN Roy, police commissioner of Maharashtra state.
    At least 10 people were killed at the main station Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, they said.
    Mumbai journalist: "Gunmen were looking for Westerners"Mumbai journalist: "Gunmen were looking for Westerners"
    At least 10 people were killed at the main station Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, they said.
    Some gunmen were still holed up in buildings that had been targeted, officials said.Some gunmen were still holed up in buildings that had been targeted, officials said.
    Mr Roy said gunmen were holding people hostage at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels.Mr Roy said gunmen were holding people hostage at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels.
    Local TV images showed blood-splattered streets, bodies being taken into ambulances and dramatic shots of what appeared to fresh blasts inside the Taj Mahal hotel.Local TV images showed blood-splattered streets, bodies being taken into ambulances and dramatic shots of what appeared to fresh blasts inside the Taj Mahal hotel.
    One eyewitness told the BBC he had seen a gunman opening fire in the Taj Mahal's lobby.One eyewitness told the BBC he had seen a gunman opening fire in the Taj Mahal's lobby.
    He said he had seen people fall before he fled the lobby. He said he had seen people fall before he fled the lobby. BOMB ATTACKS IN INDIA IN 2008 30 October: Explosions kill at least 64 in north-eastern Assam30 September: Blasts in western India kill at least seven27 September: Bomb blasts kills one in Delhi 13 September: Five bomb blasts kill 18 in Delhi 26 July: At least 22 small bombs kill 49 in Ahmedabad25 July: Seven bombs go off in Bangalore killing two people 13 May: Seven bomb hit markets and crowded streets in Jaipur killing 63
    "All I saw was one man on foot carrying a machine gun type of weapon - which I then saw him firing from and I saw people hitting the floor, people right next to me," he said."All I saw was one man on foot carrying a machine gun type of weapon - which I then saw him firing from and I saw people hitting the floor, people right next to me," he said.
    There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead.
    Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists.
    A series of attacks in Mumbai in July 2006 killed almost 190 people and injured more than 700.A series of attacks in Mumbai in July 2006 killed almost 190 people and injured more than 700.
    Bombs were detonated on commuter trains during rush hour.Bombs were detonated on commuter trains during rush hour.
    Police accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of planning the attacks, which they said were carried out by an Islamist militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba.Police accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of planning the attacks, which they said were carried out by an Islamist militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba.
    Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying there was no evidence that its intelligence staff were involved.Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying there was no evidence that its intelligence staff were involved.
    The shootings come at a time when ties between India and Pakistan have improved, and days after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told a summit in Delhi that Pakistan would not be first to carry out a missile strike on India.The shootings come at a time when ties between India and Pakistan have improved, and days after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told a summit in Delhi that Pakistan would not be first to carry out a missile strike on India.
    The two countries have a joint anti-terror mechanism whereby they are supposed to share information on terrorist attacks.The two countries have a joint anti-terror mechanism whereby they are supposed to share information on terrorist attacks.
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