Chinese premier sends condolences message over India terror attacks
MUMBAI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three blasts have been heard at Nariman House in early morning Friday in Mumbai, India, the last one is at 4:46 a.m. local time.
Earlier, seven terrorists were killed in commando
operation at the Taj hotel. There are reports of fresh firing from inside the
hotel. Army sources have told Xinhua that operation at Taj might go on till
morning.
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A fire breaks out of the dome of the Taj
hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 27, 2008. All hostages at Taj Hotel have been
rescued, but there could still be some people trapped at Trident Hotel and
Nariman House where operations were on to flush out militants, Maharashtra
police chief A N Roy said Thursday. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
In pictures: All hostages
at Mumbai's Taj Hotel rescued >> 
Director General of National Security Guard (NSG) JK
Dutt said that one injured terrorist was still inside the hotel and it's a
matter of time before the combing operation is over.
NSG commandos have now launched their final assault
at the Trident hotel where fire has been reported on the top floor.
Seven hostages have been rescued from Nariman House
which is reportedly surrounded by NSG commandos.
Earlier on Thursday, blasts rocked Oberoi-Trident and
Taj hotel. Combined forces of NSG, Navy, Army, Mumbai Police and Anti-Terrorist
Squad have rushed to tackle an unknown number of militants hiding in various
locations across the city.
Police said no more hostages were in Nariman House
but two to three terrorists were suspected to be inside Nariman House.
All the security personnel, armed with sophisticated
weapons and communication equipment, were put in strategic locations in all the
three sites and are coordinating with each other.
Around 10-12 terrorists are still holed up in the
Trident hotel and have taken many hostage. Some of them are Israeli and Canadian
nationals. Seven people have been rescued from the Trident, two have been
brought out on stretchers.
More than 100 people have been killed so far,
including nine foreigners and at least 327 injured in a series of
well-coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Terrorists, who apparently came in by boats, struck
at 10 places in south Mumbai including five-star hotels, hospitals and train
stations.
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One terrorist observe the army's
movement from a window in the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 27,
2008. All hostages at Taj Hotel have been rescued, but there could still
be more trapped at Oberoi Hotel, who the Indian security forces were
trying to rescue. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
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Maharashtra Director General of Police A N Roy said,
"There is no indication so far of the identity of the terrorists."
He said that the terrorists were highly armed, level
of weapons and training suggest that they are not locals.
According to sources, terrorists have demanded the
release of prisoners and ransoms. However, Ministry of Home Affairs has denied
this, saying that the terrorists did not make any demand.
Four Navy ships and choppers have launched search
over Gujarat-Goa seas. Navy and Coast Guard are conducting joint search for the
ship that may have carried the militants.
Naval commandos have seized credit cards with photos
of militants and grenades, AK 47 magazines, shells and knives from militants.
Earlier, NSG and Military Commandos entered the Taj
and Trident hotels. Five terrorists have been killed. Several staff members at
the hotels have also been killed, including two at Trident.
NSG Commandos launched operations in the Nariman
House building in Colaba too. This was the second place that was attacked in
Mumbai. Two men came on a scooter and hurled a grenade at nearby petrol pump.
Though the grenade missed the petrol reservoir, it
destroyed a facade of the station. The terrorists then ran into Nariman House
building behind petrol pump into a Jewish residential building. Here, the
terrorists murdered two people and then went silent for several hours till early
this morning. This is another place apart from the Taj and the Trident, which
are under siege.
Policemen were able to successfully flush out
terrorists from the Cama hospital and everything seems to be calm now. Curfew
has been imposed at Colaba and Gateway of India. At least 800 Army personnel
have been deployed at various locations in Mumbai.At least 14 policemen have
been killed across the city, including the head of the Maharashtra Anti-Terror
Squad Hemant Karkare, who was shot three times.
Well-known encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar is
also dead. Additional Commissioner of Police Sadanand Date is in critical
condition. Every top line anti-terror force in the country has been pushed into
Mumbai including commandos of the National Security Guard, Marine Commandos and
Army commandos.
There are also reports of low intensity blast in
Ville Parle and grenade attack in Santa Cruz. Two blasts have been reported in
Napean Sea road area of south Mumbai. Many foreigners have been held hostage by
the terrorists.
"Gunmen took 15 hostages and half of them
foreigners," said an eyewitness at Taj hotel.
"Gunmen wanted anyone with British or American
passport," said another eyewitness. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
said that around 20-25 terrorists entered Mumbai their nationalities are yet to
be ascertained. Five terrorists have been killed so far, many escaped and one
has been arrested.
An unknown organization called the Deccan Mujahideen
has taken the responsibility for the terror attacks.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said,
"There is no plan for talks with the terrorists. Claiming to have some "vital
leads", the minister expressed confidence of a breakthrough soon.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has addressed
the nation and he also called an emergency Cabinet meeting. Home Minister
Shivraj Patil is back in Delhi from Mumbai. Indian Cabinet Committee on Security
met before the full Cabinet meet. The Prime Minister's election rally in Delhi
scheduled for Thursday was also canceled.
Intelligence sources say that foreign hand is fully
evident in these attacks. They have arrested a Pakistan national from Chowpatty
area in the city. Police have seized a rubber boat, which anchored off Mumbai
harbour. It all started with incidents of firing in Colaba and near CST station.
Meanwhile, train services have resumed at the CST
station. Lufthansa, Northwest and Air France have canceled their flights.
On their part, hotels in Mumbai have been asked not
to take new guests.
One terrorist left in Taj hotel, says
NSG
MUMBAI, Nov. 28
(Xinhua)--The Indian National Security Guard (NSG), which is engaged in a gun
battle with the terrorists at Taj hotel here, said Friday morning that just one
terrorist was still hiding and hoped to wrap up the flush-out operation at the
Trident-Oberoi hotel and Nariman House very soon.
"There is one terrorist in the Taj (hotel). He has been
injured and I think we will be able to mop up the operation there very quickly,"
Director General of NSG J K Dutt said. Full story
Three blasts heard at Nariman House of
Mumbai, situation still fluid
MUMBAI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three blasts have been heard at Nariman House in
early morning Friday in Mumbai, India, the last one is at 4:46 a.m. local time.
Earlier, seven terrorists were killed in commando
operation at the Taj hotel. There are reports of fresh firing from inside the
hotel. Army sources have told Xinhua that operation at Taj might go on till
morning. Full story
PM: Mumbai attacks carried out by
group based outside India
MUMBAI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The attacks in Mumbai which killed more than 100
people were carried out by a group based in a foreign country, said Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday.
"It is evident that the group which carried out these
attacks, based outside the country, had come with single-minded determination to
create havoc in the commercial capital of the country," Singh said.
Police: Hostages in Mumbai's Taj Hotel
rescued
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An Indian policeman escorts out a
survivor from the shooting site after an attack at the Chattrapati Shivaji
train station in Mumbai as blood stains the floor amid scattered
luggage.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
MUMBAI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- All hostages at Taj Hotel here
have been rescued, but there could still be some people trapped at Trident Hotel
and Nariman House where operations were on to flush out militants, Maharashtra
police chief A N Roy said Thursday.
All people trapped in Taj Hotel in Mumbai were rescued and
there was no hostage-like situation there right now, said Director General of
Police (DGP) A N Roy.
Security tightened in Mumbai after
terror attacks
NEW DELHI, Nov. 27
(Xinhua) -- Security was tightened in Mumbai Thursday after the fierce terror
attacks, police said.
At least 800 army personnel have been deployed at
various locations in Mumbai.
Indian PM calls for emergency
meeting
NEW DELHI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) --
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's election rally in the capital Thursday
was canceled following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Indo-Asian News
Service reported.
He
has also called an emergency Cabinet meeting. Indian Home Minister
Shivraj Patil is back in Delhi from Mumbai for the meeting.
101 dead in terror attacks in
Mumbai
MUMBAI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 101 people have been
killed in the attacks by gunmen in Mumbai Wednesday night, police said on
Thursday.
"At least six foreigners have been killed and the death
figure has gone up to 101 now," Ramesh Tayde, a senior police officer, said from
Mumbai's control room.
100 people in hotels trapped in Mumbai
terror attacks
NEW DELHI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 people
are believed to be trapped and probably held hostage by terrorists in two
five-star hotels in Mumbai, the Taj Intercontinental and Trident (formerly
Oberoi) hotels, some of them are foreigners, the NDTV reported Thursday.
More than 100 people have been killed and hundreds
injured in a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai at 10 places including
hotels, hospitals and train stations since Wednesday evening. Full story
