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Dozens released from Mumbai hotel | Dozens released from Mumbai hotel |
(40 minutes later) | |
Nearly 100 people have been released from one of Mumbai's top hotels that was seized by militants on Wednesday. | Nearly 100 people have been released from one of Mumbai's top hotels that was seized by militants on Wednesday. |
Soon after guests and staff, many of them westerners, left the Oberoi- Trident, India's security chief said the complex had been cleared of gunmen. | |
Troops continue to try to free hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and a Jewish centre, also seized in the attacks that have killed at least 130. | |
Gunfire continues to be heard at both sites. | Gunfire continues to be heard at both sites. |
Meanwhile, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said initial evidence about the attacks "indicates elements with links to Pakistan are involved", but added that details could not be given at this time. | |
Earlier, the Indian navy took control of two Pakistani merchant navy ships and has been questioning their crews after witnesses said some of the militants came ashore on small speedboats. | |
'Bodies in hall' | |
The chief of India's National Security Guard, JK Dutt, said the Oberoi-Trident was "under our control". | |
"We have killed two terrorists today," he said. "There was lots of firing, they also lobbed hand grenades. Some of them are unexploded, we are going to defuse them - you may hear some sound of explosions." | |
Earlier, the army said at least one gunman with "two or more hostages" remained in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. | |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
More than 100 commandos have gone into the Taj Mahal and gunfire and explosions continue to be heard, say BBC correspondents outside the hotel. | |
Indian commandos who managed to enter other parts of the Taj Mahal say they found at least 30 bodies in one hall. It is not clear if that number is included in the overall death toll. | Indian commandos who managed to enter other parts of the Taj Mahal say they found at least 30 bodies in one hall. It is not clear if that number is included in the overall death toll. |
The commandos also said the militants were well aware of the layout of the hotel, and that they had recovered a Mauritius identity card as well as guns and money. | |
The relief of the guests at the Oberoi-Trident was evident as at least 93 of them were escorted from the hotel on Friday morning following a 36-hour siege. They included 20 Air France crew members. | |
One of those freed, Briton Mark Abell, spoke of his delight at seeing several heavily armed soldiers at his hotel door after spending so long inside his room. | |
But he was shocked by the state of the hotel after the 36-hour siege. "The lobby was carnage, blood and guts everywhere. It was very upsetting," he told the BBC. | |
Smoke bombs | Smoke bombs |
At first light, helicopters swooped over the Nariman House business and residential complex in south Mumbai, which houses the Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch. | At first light, helicopters swooped over the Nariman House business and residential complex in south Mumbai, which houses the Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch. |
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 |
Commandos initially dropped smoke bombs to create confusion, and then several troops abseiled down ropes to secure the roof. | Commandos initially dropped smoke bombs to create confusion, and then several troops abseiled down ropes to secure the roof. |
They are said to have been tentatively moving down through the building, trying not to cause casualties among the hostages. | They are said to have been tentatively moving down through the building, trying not to cause casualties among the hostages. |
Earlier, a woman and child were seen leaving the building, but it was unclear whether they had managed to escape or were released. | Earlier, a woman and child were seen leaving the building, but it was unclear whether they had managed to escape or were released. |
The child was identified as the two-year-old son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holzberg, the main representative at the ultra-orthodox outreach centre. There was no word on the rabbi's fate. | The child was identified as the two-year-old son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holzberg, the main representative at the ultra-orthodox outreach centre. There was no word on the rabbi's fate. |
Claim | Claim |
Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre, a hospital and a cafe frequented by foreigners. | Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre, a hospital and a cafe frequented by foreigners. |
The attacks are the worst in India's commercial capital since nearly 200 people were killed in a series of bombings in 2006. | The attacks are the worst in India's commercial capital since nearly 200 people were killed in a series of bombings in 2006. |
A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. | A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. |
However, most intelligence officials are keeping an open mind as the attacks have thrown up conflicting clues, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says. | However, most intelligence officials are keeping an open mind as the attacks have thrown up conflicting clues, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says. |
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