Mumbai: Police take hotels
Police have entered the two hotels at the centre of Mumbai’s terrorist crisis, where several British citizens are expected to be held by hostages.
Foreign secretary David Miliband expressed his solidarity with people in Mumbai yesterday, saying: “This attack is an attack on all of us”.
He described the terrorist strikes there as “callous, inhuman and indiscriminate”.
Gunfire and a series of explosions have been heard at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel as Indian troops continue to clash with gunmen thought to be holding a number of people hostage.
Elsewhere, commandos stormed a Jewish centre in an attempt to free hostages, with troops abseiling into the building from helicopters.
Reports suggest that security forces are still clearing the two Mumbai hotels – Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident – of the gunmen responsible for Wednesday’s attacks which left over 130 people dead and some 300 injured.
The Indian navy has also reportedly taken control of two Pakistani merchant navy ships and is currently questioning the crews after reports suggest that some of the militants came shore in Mumbai by speed boats.
The gunmen are thought to have struck seven separate sites late on Wednesday in an apparent attack which witnesses claimed targeted British and American nationals.
On Thursday the Foreign Office confirmed there had been at least one British victim from the attacks. He has been named by the Indian city’s St George’s hospital as yachting millionaire Andreas Liveras.
On Wednesday Mr Liveras had given an interview to the BBC from the basement of the Taj Mahal hotel. Some time later – possibly just minutes – he died from several gunshot wounds.
A previously unknown Islamic extremist group calling itself Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Troops are continuing to make safe the Taj Mahal Palace today with one commando describing the gunmen as “very determined” and “remorseless”.
“These people are very familiar with the hotel layout and it appears they had carried out a survey before,” Sky News quotes a commando saying.
“We were told there only there of four terrorists when we entered the hotel but gunfire and grenades were being dropped from different places so probably they were going from one place to another.”
A taskforce of Foreign Office and Metropolitan Police representatives have now landed in India’s financial centre.
One thousand two hundreds calls have already been made to the special hotline set up by the Foreign Office.
The foreign secretary confirmed the number of injured Britons in Mumbai was now higher than seven, but “not running away from that number”.
Two meetings of the emergency Cabinet committee Cobra have already been held.
Eyewitness reports indicate the terrorists sought out people with UK or American passports.
“India and Britain stand together at this time in the face of terrorism,” said Conservative leader David Cameron.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “When violent terrorism raises its ugly head, it is crucial that the international community stands together.
“India and Britain have close historical ties which should rightly prompt a signal of strong support from Britain to the Indian government.”
Prime minister Gordon Brown has also condemned the attacks as “outrageous”.
He said they would be met with a “vigorous response”.
“I have sent a message to prime minister Singh that the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond, and to offer all necessary help,” Mr Brown continued.
“Urgent action is underway to offer every possible protection to British citizens in the region.”
The Foreign Office has issued an emergency number for those concerned about relatives in Mumbai: 0207 008 0000.
