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UK leaders pledge India support | |
(39 minutes later) | |
British political leaders have condemned the "horrific" attacks in Mumbai and promised to "stand together" with India to fight terrorism. | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his first priority was to ensure any Britons still caught up in the wave of attacks in the Indian city were safe. | |
UK police and security officials were travelling to India, he added. | |
Tory leader David Cameron said all nations must "stand together" to defeat the threat of terrorism. | |
Seven British citizens have been injured in the incidents, the British High Commissioner in India has said. | Seven British citizens have been injured in the incidents, the British High Commissioner in India has said. |
At least 101 people have been killed, and more than 300 injured, in the co-ordinated shootings in India's business capital. | |
We will stand together. We will defeat extremist terrorism wherever it comes from We will not be cowed or bullied by these people David CameronConservative Party leader Indian PM vows action on attacksWitnesses tell of Mumbai violence | |
Scores of people, said to include foreign nationals, have been held hostage in two luxury hotels - the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident - and an office block. | |
The UK prime minister pledged to do "whatever it takes to protect British citizens", including any still trapped in the two hotels occupied by the gunmen. | |
"Our determination is to make sure that those people caught up [in the incidents] are safe and those people who are injured are taken care of," he said. | |
Mr Brown, who has pledged his support to the Indian government, said more than 800 people had contacted an emergency number set up by the Foreign Office to provide updates about the situation. | |
"These are horrific attacks which have shocked and outraged people around the world," he said, adding that the "world must come together to fight terrorist groups". | |
Mr Brown, who held a meeting of the Cobra emergency response committee on Thursday, said UK police and security officials "well-versed" with terrorist incidents were on their way to India. | |
Mr Cameron described the incidents as "absolutely horrific" and said nations must unite to fight the threat of terrorism. | |
'Not cowed' | 'Not cowed' |
Mr Cameron said there was no such thing as an "isolated terrorist attack" and that the attack on India was an attack on the UK too. | Mr Cameron said there was no such thing as an "isolated terrorist attack" and that the attack on India was an attack on the UK too. |
"They want to stop us travelling, trading and co-operating," Mr Cameron said of those responsible. "We should say no." | "They want to stop us travelling, trading and co-operating," Mr Cameron said of those responsible. "We should say no." |
"We will stand together. We will defeat extremist terrorism wherever it comes from We will not be cowed or bullied by these people." | "We will stand together. We will defeat extremist terrorism wherever it comes from We will not be cowed or bullied by these people." |
The Conservative leader said he had spoken to two Tory MEPs - Sajjad Karim and Syed Kamall - who had been caught up in one of incidents but who were now safe. | |
The Foreign Office has issued an emergency number for people with relatives in Mumbai: 0207 008 0000. It has advised against all non-essential travel to Mumbai until further notice. | The Foreign Office has issued an emergency number for people with relatives in Mumbai: 0207 008 0000. It has advised against all non-essential travel to Mumbai until further notice. |
Sir Richard Stagg, the British High Commissioner, said there were likely to be more UK injured and the identities of the hostages being held across Mumbai were unknown. | |
He told the BBC: "We have visited most of the central hospitals where those injured have been taken and have met seven British victims who are in hospital at the moment and we understand there is likely to be some other injured of British nationality." | |
He refused to discuss the nature of their injuries and added that the nationality of the hostages being held in the city was unknown though some were "foreign". | |
Eyewitnesses have said the attackers had been seeking out UK and US passport holders. | Eyewitnesses have said the attackers had been seeking out UK and US passport holders. |
The UK and India will continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists Foreign Secretary David Miliband Indian PM vows action on attacksWitnesses tell of Mumbai violence | The UK and India will continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists Foreign Secretary David Miliband Indian PM vows action on attacksWitnesses tell of Mumbai violence |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it was "crucial" that the international community stood together to fight terrorism. | |
"India and Britain have close historical ties which should rightly prompt a signal of strong support from Britain to the Indian government." | |
Mike Gapes, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said he believed the improvement in relations between India and Pakistan in recent months may have been one factor behind the attacks. | |
The attacks could not be allowed to damage Britain's strong trading relationship with India, he added. | The attacks could not be allowed to damage Britain's strong trading relationship with India, he added. |
"It is very important that we recognise that a small number of fanatical extremists cannot stop the economic links we have between Britain and India," he said. | "It is very important that we recognise that a small number of fanatical extremists cannot stop the economic links we have between Britain and India," he said. |
'Started firing' | 'Started firing' |
Police in Mumbai said the shootings were co-ordinated terrorist attacks and the gunmen had fired indiscriminately. | |
As news of the seriousness of the attacks came in, the British government convened an emergency meeting known as the Consular Crisis Group. | As news of the seriousness of the attacks came in, the British government convened an emergency meeting known as the Consular Crisis Group. |
A Foreign Office spokesman told the BBC it had discussed how to respond and what help it should give to back up British diplomatic staff in the Indian city. | A Foreign Office spokesman told the BBC it had discussed how to respond and what help it should give to back up British diplomatic staff in the Indian city. |
The two five-star hotels were among numerous locations in the main tourist and business district targeted late on Wednesday. | The two five-star hotels were among numerous locations in the main tourist and business district targeted late on Wednesday. |
Gunmen, using grenades and automatic weapons, also opened fire at a train station and a hospital. | Gunmen, using grenades and automatic weapons, also opened fire at a train station and a hospital. |
Do you have friends or relatives in Mumbai? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Do you have friends or relatives in Mumbai? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |