MUMBAI, India (CNN) -- Fresh gunfire and explosions were
heard late Thursday in Mumbai as police and soldiers battled terrorists
at three sites about 24 hours after the first wave of violence hit the city
Fresh explosions have been heard at the Taj Mahal hotel, where police are trying to free hostages.
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http://CNN.imageChanger.load('cnnImgChngr','imgChng/p1-0.exclude.html');Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh suggested the group behind the terrorist
attacks, which killed 125 people, was based outside the country. Regular gun fire and blasts could be heard at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal hotels and a Jewish center in the city. Police had some success with 10 hostages reportedly freed from the Oberoi despite a major fire.Up to 20 more people were believed trapped or held hostage at the
hotel, said CNN correspondent Andrew Stevens citing an official.
Watch more on hostages being released »Shortly after authorities said the siege had ended at the Taj Mahal
hotel, two explosions were heard, similar to the six blasts heard
earlier. It was not immediately clear what caused any of the
explosions. Witnesses said continuous gunfire could be heard at the
hotel.
Are you there? Send your photos, storiesCNN-IBN, CNN's sister network in India, reported commando forces
"encountered stiff resistance from the terrorists who were heavily
armed and well entrenched inside." A few blocks away, at the Hotel Oberoi, a major fire raged Thursday night through one floor there. Later, an explosion was heard from the hotel's rear side.
Watch flames pouring from the Oberoi »At least three or four terrorists are still holding hostages in both
the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, British officials told CNN on
Thursday. Singh said: "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 financial capital of
the country," he said.
Watch Singh speak about the attacks »The death toll from the series of coordinated attacks was at 125,
including at least six foreigners, by Thursday evening authorities
said. An Italian and Briton were among the confirmed dead. Another 327 people were wounded in the attacks, including seven British, three American and two Australian citizens.
Watch more on who is responsible »In addition, at least nine gunmen were killed in fighting with police.
IBN, quoted police sources as saying they believed there were around 26
gunmen, most of them young.
Don't Miss Among the dead was Hemant Karkare, the chief of the Mumbai police's anti-terror squad, and 14 police officers. Indian officials have told Canada that they believe six Canadians are
being held hostage, according to a senior aide to Prime Minister
Stephen Harper. Authorities found 8 kilograms (17 pounds) of
RDX, one of the most powerful kinds of military explosives, at a
restaurant near the Taj, indicating that the attackers may have been
planning more violence. Gunmen also remained holed up in a
building called Chabad House, where several Jewish families live. Rabbi
Gabriel Holtzberg, the city's envoy for the community, was being held
inside with his wife, a member of the Hasidic Jewish movement said. The
couple's 18-month-old baby was released unharmed.
Read more on group claiming responsibilityTwo women and an infant were seen escaping from the building but three
to four residents remained captive inside, an Indian official said.Police said gunmen fired indiscriminately from the building. Stray
bullets killed a couple in their home and a 16-year-old boy who stepped
outside, police said. Police surrounded the building and exchanged gunfire in which one of the gunmen reportedly was shot, CNN-IBN said.
Watch witness describe hotel escape »A standoff at a fourth location -- the Cama Hospital for women and
infants -- appeared to have been resolved by Thursday morning, CNN-IBN
reported. Authorities locked down Mumbai and asked residents to stay inside. The stock market in the city --
India's
financial hub -- was closed, as were schools and colleges. The city is
also home to Bollywood, the world's most prolific film industry. Government officials said the attacks caught them completely unaware. Police say the attackers came by boats to the waterfront near the Gateway of India monument.
International hot linesAustralia: Department of Foreign Affairs offers these numbers: In Australia: 1-800-002 214. Australians overseas, call 61 2 6261-3305.
India:JJ Hospital, 91 22 2373-5555; St. George Hospital (Dr. Ashok Shinde),
91 98 6905-0622; Police control room, 91 22 2262-5020, 91 22 2262-1855
UK: The British Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directing concerned UK nationals to call 44 (0)20 7008-0000
U.S.: The State Department has established a Consular Call Center: The number is 888-407-4747.
Canada: For Canadians in India call 1-800-387-3124. In Canada call 613-996-8885.
IBN reported late Thursday a body being found on a fishing trawler carrying high tech satellite gear and GPS equipment. Of the nine suspects arrested in connection with the attacks, seven are
fishermen. Police also found a boat loaded with explosives near the
Taj's waterfront location. "Those men were wearing jackets and they carried big big bags," one fisherman told CNN-IBN.
Read more from witnesses Said another: "We asked, 'Where are you coming from?' They said, 'Go do your work.'"The gunmen then hijacked cars -- including a police van -- and broke up
into at least three groups to carry out the attacks, police said.One group headed toward the Cafe Leopold, a popular hangout for Western
tourists, firing indiscriminately at passers-by on the street. They
then opened fire and lobbed grenades at the Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus railway station, a Victorian building. As police
rushed to the scene of the attacks, gunmen attacked the Cama Hospital.
Two other groups attacked the Oberoi and Taj hotels.
Watch more on Mumbai's importance »The Indian navy, stepping up patrols on the country's western coast
after the attacks, boarded a cargo vessel Thursday afternoon, officials
said. They and the Indian coast guard were also searching for a small
boat. The operations were being conducted in the Arabian Sea.Several Indian news outlets reported receiving e-mails from a group
calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen, claiming responsibility for the
attacks. CNN was not able to verify the reports. Reaction from
the United Nations, United States and United Kingdom was swift as world
leaders joined in condemning the attacks.
Read more on the international reactionIndia has suffered a number of attacks in recent years, including a
string of bombs that ripped through packed Mumbai commuter trains and
platforms during rush hour in July 2006. About 209 people were killed
Subject: TERROR IN INDIA 
Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:59 pm
