World reaction to terror attacks in the Indian city Mumbai
- 00:01:11
- ITN
World reaction to terror attacks in the Indian city Mumbai
Commandos are reportedly poised to storm luxury hotels in Mumbai where terrorists are holding hostages. Witnesses said India's special forces are preparing to strike at the Taj Mahal Palace and Trident-Oberoi hotels as well as a Jewish centre, where militants are holed up with scores of people. More than 101 people are dead and 287 injured after a string of gun and grenade attacks across India's largest city and financial capital. Indian officials said a Briton, an Australian and a Japanese man were killed during a series of co-ordinated strikes in the city's wealthy tourist and business districts. Sir Richard Stagg, the British High Commissioner, said at least seven Britons had been injured in the attacks and are recovering in hospital. An emergency hotline has been set up for people worried about friends or relatives on 0207 008 0000. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "The well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of terror by choosing high-profile targets." The militants arrived by boat and fanned out, firing indiscriminately, before attacking the hotels, the main train station, a restaurant and a hospital. The attackers appeared to target British, Americans and Israelis as they hunted for hostages. Witnesses said the attackers were young South Asian men in their early 20s, most likely Indians, speaking Hindi or Urdu. Briton Alex Chamberlain said: "They told everybody to stop and put their hands up and asked if there were any British or Americans. I am sure that is what this is all about. They were talking about British and Americans specifically." An little-known organisation calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen sent an email to news organisations claiming responsibility. British Euro MP Sajjad Karim, part of a trade delegation visiting Mumbai for talks, described how the gunmen sprayed bullets indiscriminately into crowds of people at the Taj Mahal Palace. He said: "I was in the lobby of the hotel when gunmen came in and people started running. There were about 25 or 30 of us. "Some of us split one way and some another. A gunman just stood there spraying bullets around, right next to me. I managed to turn away and I ran into the hotel kitchen and then we were shunted into a restaurant in the basement." Fellow guest Cheryl Robinson said: "We were at dinner when we heard shots fired. There was gunfire and explosions. The hotel staff told us to be quiet. The staff were stupendous. They locked the doors and warned us to sit tight." Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the attacks as "outrageous" and said they would be met with a "vigorous response". 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.
ITN | November 27, 2008
