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Briton tells of his Mumbai rescue Briton tells of his Mumbai rescue
(about 1 hour later)
A British businessman who barricaded himself into a Mumbai hotel room for 48 hours when gunmen attacked has spoken of his relief at being rescued.A British businessman who barricaded himself into a Mumbai hotel room for 48 hours when gunmen attacked has spoken of his relief at being rescued.
Mark Abell was staying at the Oberoi seized by militants on Wednesday. Mark Abell was staying at the Oberoi, seized by militants on Wednesday.
He said he had no food, little water and was "surrounded by explosions, gunshots and people screaming" but now he was looking forward to going home.He said he had no food, little water and was "surrounded by explosions, gunshots and people screaming" but now he was looking forward to going home.
One British national, Andreas Liveras, died in the attacks, and at least seven more Britons were hurt.One British national, Andreas Liveras, died in the attacks, and at least seven more Britons were hurt.
By Friday morning, the Oberoi was back under control of authorities after troops flushed out the gunmen.By Friday morning, the Oberoi was back under control of authorities after troops flushed out the gunmen.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
But police found 24 bodies there after freeing 93 guests and staff.But police found 24 bodies there after freeing 93 guests and staff.
Gun battles are continuing at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, another of Mumbai's luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre, where hostages are still being held.Gun battles are continuing at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, another of Mumbai's luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre, where hostages are still being held.
The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera said British officials were investigating reports that Britons were involved in carrying out the attacks.
The claim was made on an Indian television station.
Mr Abell's ordeal was one shared by other Britons who also barricaded themselves in their rooms during co-ordinated attacks in the Indian city which have left 130 dead and hundreds more injured.Mr Abell's ordeal was one shared by other Britons who also barricaded themselves in their rooms during co-ordinated attacks in the Indian city which have left 130 dead and hundreds more injured.
'Too close''Too close'
Mr Abell told the BBC it had been "very grim" and he had been just a few floors away from the worst violence in the hotel.Mr Abell told the BBC it had been "very grim" and he had been just a few floors away from the worst violence in the hotel.
"I was on the 23rd floor, my colleague was on the 20th floor, and as far as we know all the action was on the 19th floor."I was on the 23rd floor, my colleague was on the 20th floor, and as far as we know all the action was on the 19th floor.
"We were too close for comfort and throughout the night, the whole thing was punctuated by a series of explosions."We were too close for comfort and throughout the night, the whole thing was punctuated by a series of explosions.
"Towards the end of the night it started to quieten down and I was communicating on my Blackberry with other people who were in a similar position and we slowly started to get a picture that we would be evacuated.""Towards the end of the night it started to quieten down and I was communicating on my Blackberry with other people who were in a similar position and we slowly started to get a picture that we would be evacuated."
The lobby was carnage - there was blood and guts everywhere - it was very upsetting Mark Abell, British businessman Businesswoman tells of ordealBriton killed in Mumbai namedDozens released from hotelsThe lobby was carnage - there was blood and guts everywhere - it was very upsetting Mark Abell, British businessman Businesswoman tells of ordealBriton killed in Mumbai namedDozens released from hotels
He went on to describe the moment he was rescued.He went on to describe the moment he was rescued.
"There was a knock on the door and there was an entourage of heavily armed military, hotel staff and the police.""There was a knock on the door and there was an entourage of heavily armed military, hotel staff and the police."
Asked what was going through his mind at that point, he said: "I'm going home, going to see my children, going to see my wife."Asked what was going through his mind at that point, he said: "I'm going home, going to see my children, going to see my wife."
He then described how he was taken downstairs in the lift.He then described how he was taken downstairs in the lift.
"The lobby was carnage - there was blood and guts everywhere - it was very upsetting."The lobby was carnage - there was blood and guts everywhere - it was very upsetting.
"Just before I went to my room I'd had dinner in the Kandahar restaurant and I've now just found out that that's one of the places it started and unfortunately the waitress who served us was one of the first to get shot.""Just before I went to my room I'd had dinner in the Kandahar restaurant and I've now just found out that that's one of the places it started and unfortunately the waitress who served us was one of the first to get shot."
Sir Gulam Noon, another British businessman, was also forced to barricade himself and several colleagues into a room at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
They entered and looked through our passports and scouted around to see if anyone was harbouring terrorists or attackers Nicole Griffen, Taj Mahal Palace guest
He said they were all afraid that at any time the gunmen would kick the door down and, at one stage, smoke from a fire started seeping into the room.
"Then it was a panic situation," he said. "We could feel it in our throats. We knew it was serious."
Eventually, all six were rescued from a balcony by a fire crew, and lowered to safety.
He told the BBC: "I hope, and I'm sure, like Londoners, Bombayites are resilient, brave and will withstand this onslaught on the city."
Fellow Briton Nicole Griffen said she was rescued by Indian special forces from the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.Fellow Briton Nicole Griffen said she was rescued by Indian special forces from the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
"They entered and looked through our passports and scouted around to see if anyone was harbouring terrorists or attackers," she told BBC's Radio 5 Live."They entered and looked through our passports and scouted around to see if anyone was harbouring terrorists or attackers," she told BBC's Radio 5 Live.
"And then we were promptly told where to go by the central stairway and again we were asked to wait with other guests while they checked other floors and checked other rooms and we all congregated into one space where they could protect us centrally," she added. They were then told to wait with fellow guests, while other floors and rooms were checked, she added.
Gun fireGun fire
The devastating attacks have been condemned by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Prime Minister Gordon Brown who described them as "atrocious" and said he did not believe there were any further Britons among hostages.The devastating attacks have been condemned by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Prime Minister Gordon Brown who described them as "atrocious" and said he did not believe there were any further Britons among hostages.
The only British national known to have died is Mr Liveras, a businessman who emigrated to Britain from Cyprus.The only British national known to have died is Mr Liveras, a businessman who emigrated to Britain from Cyprus.
Andreas Liveras had gone to the Taj Palace hotel for a mealAndreas Liveras had gone to the Taj Palace hotel for a meal
Mr Liveras, the founder of a luxury yacht business, had been visiting the Taj Mahal Palace to have a curry on Wednesday evening when he was killed.Mr Liveras, the founder of a luxury yacht business, had been visiting the Taj Mahal Palace to have a curry on Wednesday evening when he was killed.
He became caught up in the violence, and when he spoke to the BBC he said: "I think it's got the best restaurant here. But as soon as we sat at the table we heard the machine gun fire outside in the corridor."He became caught up in the violence, and when he spoke to the BBC he said: "I think it's got the best restaurant here. But as soon as we sat at the table we heard the machine gun fire outside in the corridor."
He described hiding under the table and then being led to a salon in the hotel where hundreds of other guests were sheltering.He described hiding under the table and then being led to a salon in the hotel where hundreds of other guests were sheltering.
He was later pronounced dead on arrival at Mumbai's St George's Hospital.
The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Mumbai until further notice.The Foreign Office is advising against all non-essential travel to Mumbai until further notice.
England's cricket team, which is in India, have decided to fly home from their tour of the country, but said it remained committed to returning for the Test series. A reception centre for British nationals has been set up at the British Council Library in Mumbai and will remain open overnight.
The Foreign Office has issued an emergency number for people with relatives in Mumbai: 0207 008 0000.The Foreign Office has issued an emergency number for people with relatives in Mumbai: 0207 008 0000.