The hostages taken part was something I just found out through other news. This is ongoing, and the story is evolving. It sounds a lot like last summer’s attack, and they are saying this Indian Mujahadeen. The attacks are focused on Westerners. Some reports are even saying 40 are dead, and there are several attacks going on simultaneously. –Head Jundi
Edit: At least 78 dead according to Indian media, Decan Mujahadeen are claiming responsibility.
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Mumbai Shootings, Grenade Attacks Kill at Least 16 (Update1)
By Stephen Foxwell and Sumit Sharma
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) — Grenade and gun attacks erupted today across Mumbai, India’s financial capital, killing 16 and injuring at least 25, television broadcasts said. Shots were reported near luxury hotels and one of the city’s main rail stations.
Police ringed the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Trident and Oberoi hotels and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the south of the city, NDTV reported. Two terrorists were said to be inside the Trident Hotel, in the financial district of Nariman Point, Times TV said.
“Some terrorist incidents are happening, some grenades were lobbed,” A.N. Roy, director general of police for Maharashtra state, said in a telephone interview. “Give us some time to get a clearer picture.”
The shootings took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, CNN-IBN television said. There were reports of explosions and continued firing, the channel said. Shootings also took pace outside Café Leopold and at the Taj Mahal hotel, both in the Colaba tourist area of south Mumbai, CNN-IBN reported.
“We are all fine and safe within the hotel,” said a Taj employee who answered the telephone at the hotel. “I can’t say anything more since we are still collecting information, and are all busy.
Multiple attacks have rocked India’s cities this year with bombs planted in markets, theaters and near mosques. While previous attacks have been blamed on foreign terrorists, police arrested members of the Indian Mujahadeen after a shootout in Delhi in September.
Broken Windows
Times TV reported that some people had broken the windows of the Trident hotel, facing the Arabian-Sea, and were leaning out over the ledges. The two attackers at the Trident, who may be holding hostages, had entered one of the hotel restaurants and said they were looking for U.S. and British nationals, the channel said.
There was an explosion near a junction in Vile Parle, near the airport, Times TV said. The remains of a taxicab were strewn at the blast site, television pictures showed.
The government has previously blamed terrorist attacks on organizations linked to foreign powers, without offering evidence or making arrests. Local media often blame the attacks on groups backed by Pakistan or Bangladesh, without identifying the security officials who provided the information.
Delhi Blasts
The capital New Delhi was rocked by five blasts during an evening rush hour in September, killing as many as 26 people and injuring about 133. Police defused two bombs in the Connaught Place area and one near India Gate. Indian Mujahadeen, which claimed responsibility for similar attacks in Ahmedabad and Jaipur, said it was behind the blasts.
Police killed two suspected terrorists Sept. 19 in a gun battle in the Jamia Nagar area and arrested five people in connection with the blasts. Three of the arrested men belong to Indian Mujahadeen, police said.
Sixteen bombs exploded in Ahmedabad within 20 minutes late on July 26, a day after seven bombs tore through India’s technology hub of Bangalore, killing two. At least 20 devices hidden in cars and garbage cans were discovered and defused in the Gujarat city of Surat, days after the Ahmedabad blasts.
To contact the reporters on this story: Stephen Foxwell at sfoxwell@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: November 26, 2008 14:22 EST
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