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| Troops confront Mumbai attackers | Troops confront Mumbai attackers |
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| Indian security forces have been exchanging fire with gunmen holding dozens of hostages in two luxury hotels in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). | Indian security forces have been exchanging fire with gunmen holding dozens of hostages in two luxury hotels in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). |
| Troops surrounded the premises shortly after armed men carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the city, killing 101 people and injuring 287. | Troops surrounded the premises shortly after armed men carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the city, killing 101 people and injuring 287. |
| The hotels were among at least seven sites in the main tourist and business district targeted late on Wednesday. | |
| Police say four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested. | Police say four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested. |
| The situation is still volatile in two of the most high-profile targets of Wednesday's attacks - the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels, where armed men are believed to be holding about 40 hostages. | The situation is still volatile in two of the most high-profile targets of Wednesday's attacks - the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels, where armed men are believed to be holding about 40 hostages. |
| There are reports of intermittent exchange of fire between security forces and the assailants barricaded inside both hotels. | There are reports of intermittent exchange of fire between security forces and the assailants barricaded inside both hotels. |
| Correspondents say security personnel have so far not stormed the premises perhaps for fear of endangering the lives of hostages, some of whom could be Westerners. | Correspondents say security personnel have so far not stormed the premises perhaps for fear of endangering the lives of hostages, some of whom could be Westerners. |
| Attacks leave India reelingWitnesses tell of violenceIn pictures: Mumbai attacksAre you in the area? | Attacks leave India reelingWitnesses tell of violenceIn pictures: Mumbai attacksAre you in the area? |
| The city's main commuter train station, a hospital, and a restaurant popular with tourists were among at least seven locations caught up in the violence on Wednesday. | The city's main commuter train station, a hospital, and a restaurant popular with tourists were among at least seven locations caught up in the violence on Wednesday. |
| Assailants used grenades and automatic weapons. Police say the dead include six foreigners, 14 police officers and 81 Indian nationals. | Assailants used grenades and automatic weapons. Police say the dead include six foreigners, 14 police officers and 81 Indian nationals. |
| Eyewitness reports suggest the attackers singled out British and American passport holders staying at the hotels. | Eyewitness reports suggest the attackers singled out British and American passport holders staying at the hotels. |
| If the reports are true, our security correspondent Frank Gardner says it implies an Islamist motive - attacks inspired or co-ordinated by al-Qaeda. | If the reports are true, our security correspondent Frank Gardner says it implies an Islamist motive - attacks inspired or co-ordinated by al-Qaeda. |
| A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. Our correspondent says it could be a hoax or assumed name for another group. | A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. Our correspondent says it could be a hoax or assumed name for another group. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| • Fire crews evacuated people from the upper floors of the Taj Mahal Palace, where a grenade attack caused a blaze | • Fire crews evacuated people from the upper floors of the Taj Mahal Palace, where a grenade attack caused a blaze |
| • The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, says seven UK citizens are known to be among the injured and believes that figure could rise | • The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, says seven UK citizens are known to be among the injured and believes that figure could rise |
| • Israel says it is concerned for the safety of its citizens in Mumbai, as a rabbi and his family are feared captured by gunmen | • Israel says it is concerned for the safety of its citizens in Mumbai, as a rabbi and his family are feared captured by gunmen |
| • The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit and two other senior officers are among those killed, officials say | • The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit and two other senior officers are among those killed, officials say |
| • There are unconfirmed reports that five gunmen have taken hostages in an office block in the financial district of Mumbai | • There are unconfirmed reports that five gunmen have taken hostages in an office block in the financial district of Mumbai |
| • The White House held a meeting of top intelligence and counter-terrorism officials, and pledges to help the Indian government | • The White House held a meeting of top intelligence and counter-terrorism officials, and pledges to help the Indian government |
| • India's Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange markets are closed, as the authorities urge local people to stay at home | • India's Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange markets are closed, as the authorities urge local people to stay at home |
| • The England cricket team have reportedly decided to abandon their current tour of India. See detailed map of the area | • The England cricket team have reportedly decided to abandon their current tour of India. See detailed map of the area |
| Gunmen opened fire at about 2300 local time (1730 GMT) on Wednesday at the sites in southern Mumbai. | Gunmen opened fire at about 2300 local time (1730 GMT) on Wednesday at the sites in southern Mumbai. |
| Local TV footage with commentary by the BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava | Local TV footage with commentary by the BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava |
| "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. |
| Local TV images showed blood-splattered streets, and bodies being taken into ambulances. | Local TV images showed blood-splattered streets, and bodies being taken into ambulances. |
| 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. |
| 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 International reaction | 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 International reaction |
| "We all moved through the lobby in the opposite direction and another gunman then appeared towards where we were moving and he started firing immediately in our direction." | "We all moved through the lobby in the opposite direction and another gunman then appeared towards where we were moving and he started firing immediately in our direction." |
| One British tourist said she spent six hours barricaded in the Oberoi hotel. | 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. | "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. |
| There has been a wave of bombings in Indian cities in recent months which has left scores of people dead. | 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. | Most of the attacks have been blamed on Muslim militants, although police have also arrested suspected Hindu extremists. |
| The BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava says the timing and symbolism of the latest attacks could not have been worse. | The BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava says the timing and symbolism of the latest attacks could not have been worse. |
| By choosing to target the richest district of India's financial capital in such a brazen and effective manner, he says those behind the attacks have perhaps dealt the severest blow to date to the morale and self esteem of the Indian authorities. | By choosing to target the richest district of India's financial capital in such a brazen and effective manner, he says those behind the attacks have perhaps dealt the severest blow to date to the morale and self esteem of the Indian authorities. |
| The attacks have come amidst elections in several Indian states and exposes the governing coalition to the charge that it has failed to combat terror, our correspondent says. | The attacks have come amidst elections in several Indian states and exposes the governing coalition to the charge that it has failed to combat terror, our correspondent says. |
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