Chaos in Mumbai India: Terrorist Swarm Attack – Dozens Dead – Western Hostages (Including Americans) Reportedly Held
by John Little on 26/11/2008This sort of attack, requiring little more than light weapons, relatively small amounts of explosives, and pretty basic coordination, is what worries me most as we head into the holidays. They’re relatively easy to stage and quite effective:
Several people have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks targeting sites popular with tourists and business people, according to police and CNN’s sister network in India.
Ongoing battles between police and gunmen were reported at two five-star hotels by CNN-IBN.
Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades attacked targets including the hotels, a cafe, and a train station, police say.
Police confirmed two deaths but IBN said at least 18 people were killed in the coordinated strikes, according to IBN.
The attacks included five shootouts and two grenade attacks, said a police officer who answered Mumbai’s police control room line.
IBN reported an ongoing battle at the five-star Oberoi Hotel where gunmen have reportedly taken hostages after searching out people with U.S. or British passports.
Up to 80 may have been killed and 200 injured but these numbers are in flux:
There have been multiple attacks in India’s city of Mumbai and breaking reports have just revealed that up to 80people may be dead.
It appears that new attacks are occurring and that Americans are being targeted. It’s difficult to tell in the chaos. More as the story develops.
Update:
Follow the global conversation about these attacks on Twitter.
Indian bloggers are pulling together at Mumbai Help.
Now following updates from Mumbai by Twitter user Kaushal.
More on the terrorists effort to identify foreigners in their attacks:
Shootings were reported in the lobby of the five-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel in the Colaba area of south Bombay and at the nearby Leopolds bar, a popular destination with western backpackers. Witnesses described pools of blood and bullet scarred walls at both locations.
A witness at the hotel told a local television station: “They wanted anyone with British or American passports.
Related Links“They wanted foreigners.”
It’s still difficult to tell if this round of attacks is coming to an end or if it will continue:
The attacks began about 2230 local time (1700 GMT) and more than two hours later witnesses were reporting new explosions and gunfire.
The targets include businesses frequented by international visitors.
CNN correspondent Andrew Stevens said: “We are getting reports of ongoing incidents at the railway station and the Oberoi Hotel.
“We do not know if this has reached its peak or if more attacks to come.”
A local journalist told CNN he had seen evidence of an attack at the city’s domestic airport, which is on the outskirts of the Mumbai.
advertisementIBN reported explosions at a gas station and inside a taxi on a dockside road.
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