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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. | The hotels were among at least seven sites in the main tourist and business district targeted late on Wednesday. |
| Latest reports say the siege at one of the hotels has now ended. | |
| Police chief AN Roy is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel have now been rescued, although there are still an unknown number of guests in the rooms. | |
| Witnesses outside the Taj Mahal said civilians could be seen running from the hotel, some with suitcases. Ambulances were also reported to be arriving. | |
| However, the hostage situation is believed to be continuing at the Oberoi Trident, where at least one large explosion was heard earlier by witnesses. | |
| MUMBAI ATTACKS 'They killed so many people'Attacks leave India reelingWitnesses tell of violenceIn pictures: Mumbai attacksAre you in the area? | MUMBAI ATTACKS 'They killed so many people'Attacks leave India reelingWitnesses tell of violenceIn pictures: Mumbai attacksAre you in the area? |
| BBC correspondents said earlier that commandos had entered the hotels, but they were given no details about what was happening inside. | |
| 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. |
| A Jewish centre was also targeted by assailants using grenades and automatic weapons. Police say an Israeli rabbi is among the hostages being held at the offices of the group, Chabad Lubavitch. | A Jewish centre was also targeted by assailants using grenades and automatic weapons. Police say an Israeli rabbi is among the hostages being held at the offices of the group, Chabad Lubavitch. |
| Police say 14 police officers, 81 Indian nationals and six foreigners have been killed. A Japanese businessman was confirmed to be among the dead. | |
| Four suspected terrorists have also been killed and nine arrested, they add. | |
| Eyewitness reports suggested the attackers were singling out British and American passport holders staying at the hotels. | Eyewitness reports suggested the attackers were singling 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 |
| • 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 |
| See detailed map of the area | 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 had been holed up in his room at the Oberoi hotel throughout the night, hearing sporadic gunfire, small explosions and people running up and down the corridor. | One British tourist had been holed up in his room at the Oberoi hotel throughout the night, hearing sporadic gunfire, small explosions and people running up and down the corridor. |
| "I've barricaded my room, I'm keeping my head down," he told the BBC. | "I've barricaded my room, I'm keeping my head down," he told the BBC. |
| Other tourists told of groups of 20 to 30 people to a room, lying on the floor and staying very quiet. | Other tourists told of groups of 20 to 30 people to a room, lying on the floor and staying very quiet. |
| 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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