Witness accounts of hotel attacks in Mumbai
- 00:01:14
- ITN
Witness accounts of hotel attacks in Mumbai
Indian paratroopers are storming a Jewish centre in Mumbai where at least ten Israelis are being held captive. Heavy gunfire was heard as commandos were dropped by helicopter on to the roof of the building where at least ten hostages are believed to be being held. Troops are also still sweeping two luxury hotels room by room looking for hostages and gunmen. Seven more foreign captives have been freed from the Oberoi Hotel and more than 400 people were rescued from the Taj Mahal Palace. The terror attacks killed more than 109 people including at least one Briton, an Australian, an Italian and a Japanese national. At least 313 were wounded in the string of gun and grenade attacks across India's largest city and financial capital. Around two dozen militants in their early 20s, armed with automatic rifles and grenades and carrying backpacks full of ammunition, came ashore in a rubber dinghy on Wednesday and fanned out across Mumbai's financial and tourist heart. They commandeered a vehicle and sprayed passers-by with bullets, firing indiscriminately in a train station, hospitals and a popular tourist cafe. They then attacked the hotels which were packed with tourists and business executives. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has blamed militant groups based in India's neighbours - usually meaning Pakistan - raising fears of renewed tension between the nuclear-armed rivals. The Foreign Office is urging against all but essential travel to Mumbai and says anyone living in the city should "stay indoors until local authorities advise it is safe to go outside." The Government has flown out a rapid deployment team from London to help British officials on the ground. An emergency hotline has been set up for people worried about friends or relatives on 0207 008 0000.
ITN | November 28, 2008
