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Britons hostage in Mumbai hotel terror attacks
Amar Singh and Shekhar Bhatia27.11.08
Tourists were being held hostage while others cowered in hotel basements as terrorists fought running gun battles with commandos in Mumbai today.
Fires raged through the five-star Taj Mahal Hotel and Oberoi Trident Hotel following a series of terrorist attacks across India's financial capital. Indian government officials said that at least one British national was confirmed dead. Authorities said 107 people had been killed and more than 300 injured.
A Mumbai police source said most of those being held hostage in the Oberoi hotel were believed to be American, British and Israeli.
The officer also confirmed there were six dead foreigners and seven injured, but said the numbers could rise as not all the bodies had yet been positively identified.
Western tourists were apparently specifically targeted as hostages. One witness said the gunmen burst into the Oberoi's restaurant and asked Britons and Americans to put their hands up.
The terrorists moved their way through the hotel's reception rooms, demanding to know who held British or American passports and shooting randomly. Guests sought refuge in their rooms or hid elsewhere. About 50 took refuge in a restaurant and later escaped.
The groups of machine-gun wielding gunmen, described by witnesses as looking like teenagers, began their killing spree through the city's main tourist areas in the southern area of Mumbai, after arriving in several boats.
They attacked a hospital and the main railway station where they fired indiscriminately at passengers on the concourse of the Victoria Terminus, causing a stampede, injuring around 250 people. Terrorists also attacked the Santa Cruz domestic airport.
Other attacks took place at Nariman House, a Jewish-owned apartment complex, where a rabbi, his wife and several other Israelis were being held hostage.
Leopold Café, a favourite haunt of foreign backpackers and expatriates was also stormed by gunmen. Islamist militants today claimed responsibility for the attacks and alluded to India's ongoing conflict in Kashmir - where state-wide elections are due to be held later this month.
An email sent by an unknown group, Mujahideen Hyderabad Deccan, warned of more such attacks.
The two-page message sent to TV stations, said: "We today warn the Indian government to stop the repeated injustice on Muslims and it should return the states snatched from Muslims. But we know that Indian government would not take this warning seriously. Now we will keep on reacting till the time we don't take revenge of every atrocity on us, every insult to us."
A militant holed up in Nariman House phoned an Indian television channel and said: "Ask the government to talk to us and we will release the hostages." The man, identified only as Imran, said: "Are you aware how many people have been killed in Kashmir? Are you aware how your army has killed Muslims. Are you aware how many of them have been killed in Kashmir this week?"
The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, in a televised address to the country, said the "dastardly" and "well-planned and well-orchestrated" attacks "have deeply shocked the nation".
MrSingh added: "I strongly condemn these acts of senseless violence against innocent people, including guests from foreign countries."
In a stark message to Pakistan, a country which India accuses of harbouring and training terrorists, he said: "We will take up strongly with our neighbours that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated."
Many London Hindus were today visiting the Neasden Mandir - the largest Hindu temple outside India - to pay their respects and pray for those killed in the massacre.
Spokesman Tarun Patel said: "When something like this happens in India, you have to ask yourself how safe is anywhere in the world. We all have friends and relatives out in Mumbai and we are all trying to contact our loved ones to check they are safe."
Reader views (28)
Interesting article.pappu mishra,cafe prop. from the railway station says he saw 2 sprightly young men dressed in black. were foreign looking with fair skin. gaffur abdul amir an iraqi tourist saw 2 men outside leopolds cafe, that were not indian but foreign,one had blond hair the other had it punkish style, they walked in drank there beer went out side and pulled out their guns and opened fire.he said they looked steely eyed and military trained.that was reported on an independant usa website.also one of the cargo ships caught by indian navy was half owned by the ISI of pakistan and the CIA. according to the kremlin reports.
- Frank, stoke on trent uk
Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
You should moderate the language you use. As far your assertion "any country can be hit by terrorists at any time! Indian Security is very high"
Bomb blasts by terrorists are happening in most cities since the last one year and it is a shame and PM Singh who is powerless as the power lies with Sonia Gandhi is sitting on his hands doing nothing because he was afraid that he will alienate his Islamic constituency of voters who he needs to keep his party in power. So much for secularism.
I agree with Bob about the call centres and as my bank has moved all its customer services there, I have horrendous problems in making myself understood by them.. India whatever you say is basically unsafe for any visitors, and unless visitors dry up and businesses pull out PM Singh and Sonia will only give lip service
to attention drawn to Islamic terrorism which is home grown.
Do not shoot the messenger Bob. He is speaking the truth and he is not the bigot, but the one who says so.
- Ravi, LONDON
Ab,London,Are you seriously suggesting we should tolerate believers in any god or for any other reason who kill innocent people.
- Kev, London
No business interests should be pulled out of India as a result as this. That would play into the terrorist scumbags hands.
I just wish Pakistan (a country my grandparents came from, though I am born and bred in England) would follow India's good example and focus on development, rather than fighting amongst themselves and anyone and everyone else around them. The best thing that could happen for the region would be closer ties between the two countries and a move away from posturing and rhetoric. Some form of "solution" to Kashmir would help as well - since that is the main focus of militants recruitment propaganda in the region. The average Pakistani probably couldn't care less about it but it is the perfect way for defence spending to remain astronomical and the armed forces having the most power in the country - have an "enemy" to focus on.
- H, London
India should do what Americans did after 9/11. This tragic event is no different. We should unite in this hour of need and flash the terrorists out from a place which we all know. Stop bailing out countries where money is flowing in wrong hands !
- S, london
From their statement the group's main objective seems to be to modify the attitude of the Indian government, including that they should "return states snatched from Muslims" (whatever that means - Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu before partition, and before that a Sikh - perhaps they mean Hyderabad which was a mainly Hindu state ruled by a Muslim, or are they thinking back to the Mughuls?).
If its the Indian Government they want to get at why are they so interested in targeting American, British and Iraeli citizens? Indians are extremely touchy about being put under any kind of external pressure, especially from Britain (remember Robin Cook's diasterous attempt to "help" with the Kashmir issue ahead of the Queen's state visit in 1997?). Winding up Britain or the US is therefore likely to be counter productive. One can only assume that their stated aims are not their real ones.
- Nigel, London
So Bob, did Indian businesses pull out of doing business with the UK, because of biggots like you that have a cell for a brain - i think not, this is the world we live in today that any country can be hit by terrorists at any time! Indian Security is very high. India is a secualar state, and we will see reprisals to Muslims in India taking place. My sympathies go out to all those killed, and for these extremists
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
Alan - It is MI5 / ISS that are carrying out the attacks! Have you not heard of False Flag operations? This is a classic example. Oh and ANOTHER UNKNOWN terrorist group is supposedly responsible....as always and so very convenient
- Kelly, Muscat Oman
It will happen here.
- Eric, London UK
Appalling incident and my sympathies to the victims.
But I would like to point out to Jacqui Smiff that the Indian database and ID cards seems to have been totally ineffective in stopping these terrorists. Why then does she (and the millions of people who ask her every day for them) think ID cards are certain guaranteed answer here in the UK?
Couldn't we find a better use for the eleventy billion pounds that ID cards will cost?
- Rusty Shackleford, UK
When 'we' left India, for which country my father and my uncle fought, I thought we had assigned Mohammedans a splendid country of their own in Pak-i-Stan. Evidently, that wasn't nearly enough. So if these theocrats now fancy wider action there and elsewhere, can we not be reminded, every time by way of simple headlines: "Mohammedan Murderers Strike Again"? That inevitable linkage may, in due course of decades, have corrective effects on the sources of murder.
- Steve, SW18
i am disgusted at theses terrorist, there is only a place in hell for them and their followers and such like, i am utterly appalled, i feel for all who have suffered in this disaster.Jim, these scum bag are definatly not warriors of any kind,[PERGETORY IS TOO GOOD FOR THEM] sORRAYA
- Sorraya, croydon
Bob,
Do you actually know the value of UK Exports to India ??
It is £billions.
Just google the words "UK EXPORTS TO INDIA"
Britain would lose all that trade, it could go to the French or Americans or anyone else, just because you have a chip on your shoulder about call centers ??
UK Business interests in India are about more than call centers, they are about the sale of consultancy services for infrastructure projects, agricultural processing equipment, industrial, scientific equipment. Education (yes Grammer Schools!)
Hair brushes/dryers, beauty equipment.
People like you go on about call centers and that £800 Million given in aid and the Indian space programme, have a look at the trade figures then you will see that India UK relations are about more than just call centers and that £800 million.
Britain is an island you need to trade, open your eyes.
- Vijay Gupta, London
Bob, thats exactly what the terrorists would want...it would hurt UK businesses and Indian businesses ali
- Colin, Peterborough UK
The terrorists in Mumbai look like kids, weekend warriors on a paintball spree. Who filled their minds with hatred and murder? Some holy men watching it all on TV?
- Derek, London
Let us hope that MI5 and other security operatives are keeping a close watch on our own problem muslim radicals who coould take it into their heads to show their courage by mounting a similar operation in Park Lane -
you think it could'nt happen ??
- Alan, Essex
Bob, Cheam - what a thick ignorant person you are!!! Enough said!!
- Stephen, London
Bob, Cheam, you are a racist idiot.
Using the murder and maiming of hundreds of people in order to make an entirely unconnected point is disgraceful - as is the idea that we should bow down to terrorists and pull out due to these attacks.
No doubt you were one of the cowards who refused to travel into London after the last lot of attacks here.
- Jason, london
Kev, if you stop tolerating the intolerants then you are intolerant. Figure that one out.
- Ab, london
ahh the wonders of Islam...
- Grim Reaper, Hell
I am actually quite shocked at Bob's comments (from Cheam). What do Call centres have to do with terrorist attacks ?, especially when innocent people are dying
- Trevor Collins, london
"The religion of 'peace and love' kicking of again then?"
Frank, much the same could be said of Christianity, which, during much of it`s existence, has seemed to spend a disproportionate amount of time killing people of other faiths, and, indeed, vicious infighting. Look at Northern Ireland, for a start.
The horrendous Mumbai attacks are no more representative of most Muslims, as the Northern Irish conflict was a representation of most Catholics and Protestants. Nasty people exist in all faiths.
- Glyn, Hackney, England
This is really quite shocking. I have visited Mumbai in the course of my work many times, and have always found its people to be very friendly and hospitable. Ironically, this is especially true of their attitude towards the British.
The local authorities are more than competent at dealing with major incidents and I am sure that whoever is reponsible for this atrocity does not represent the majority of Mumbai's population, or that of India as a whole.
I would highly recommend India as a holiday destination and the more people that follow that recommendation, the bigger will be the gesture of defiance to terrorists and support for India.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
These cowards who call themselves "holy warriors"are a disgrace to all human beings,they have attacked without warning innocent men ,women and children,if as it has been reported they have taken british hostages,the the SAS should flown in to advise the Indian security forces on how best to handle this very fraught situation as they have been overwhelmed by the scale of the assault.I have got more respect for the Taliban who at least take on the security forces on a more level playing field.The world sadly is becoming a more dangerous place when brainwashed scum like this are let loose without warning on innocent people going about their lives.
- Jim Ex Pat,N1, thailand
Perhaps it's time the British pulled all of their business interests out of India. I'm sure we're all sick to death of having to speak to someone in a call centre thousands of miles away who's never even been in British bank or used a British ISP who's supposed to be there to help but has to be spoon fed what they need to do to resolve your issues.
- Bob, Cheam
This has nothing to do with Religion, it is been used as an excuse by disturbed people of the world.
- Anonymous, Kent, England
Again we see the raceist intolarance of western values.Great britain should learn from these events we in the uk seem hell bent on bending over backward to accomadate the intolarant,the uk has had its bombings by islamic groups (and will have more) with the very same raceist intolerant ideoligy.Is it not time we said enough is enough,we will not and can not tollarate those that are intolerant?
- Kev, London
The religion of 'peace and love' kicking of again then?
Storming a hospital, what great warriors they are.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
