Mumbai Under Attack

(Mumbai, India) India's financial capital came under terrorist attack today with a series of explosions at multiple locations.

According to Mumbai General Railway Police Commissioner A. K. Sharma:

The terror strike which began at 1033 PM at Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus(CST),formerly known as the Victoria Terminus (VT), claimed 10 lives in the premises of the station alone, police said. Three persons were killed in a bomb explosion in a taxi on Mazegaon dockyard road and an equal number were gunned down at Taj Hotel. The victim in the hotel were its employees.

The lobby of the Oberoi hotel was on fire and the hotel evacuated, eyewitnesses said. Maharashtra DGP A N Roy said tonight's attack in "at least seven places" is a "terror strike."

Sharma said 30 persons were injured in the CST incident. Commandoes were rushed to the CST which wore a deserted look and train services suspended.

Some people were injured in the firing in Oberoi hotel, and taken to a nearby hospital in police vans and ambulance. Firing was also reported in Taj hotel.

Firing was reported at Colaba, Nariman Point and near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, formerly Victoria Terminus and it was still continuing.

Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in suburban Vile Parle. A bomb went off in a taxi in Mazegaon dockyard road.

Current casualty estimates are 80 dead and over 250 injured.

Groups of heavily-armed gunmen are reported to be holding Westerners hostage at several locations as police try to get the situation under control.


[Update 4PM EDT]


Unconfirmed information from various media sources.

- Terrorists entered the luxury Taj, Trident and Oberoi Hotels, rocking them with multiple grenade blasts. Fifteen people are reported to be held hostage at the Taj Hotel, half are believed to be foreigners. Police have surrounded the Taj Hotel.

- Terrorists entering the hotels were looking for people with American or British passports.

- Mumbai's Anti-Terrorist Squad Chief was killed by gunfire.

- Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamote died when he attempted to capture two terrorists.

- Seven Mumbai Police Officers have died so far.

- The Indian Army and Navy in Mumbai have been put on alert and 65 Army Commandos and 200 National Security Commandos are being dispatched to the city. The Indian Army has reportedly already entered the Trident Hotel.

More later


[Update 4:45PM EDT]

From Mid-Day Mumbai:

Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are the only militant outfits capable of carrying out Fidayeen (suicide) attacks in the city. It is not the handiwork of Indian Mujahideen, claimed the police.

A senior police said a specially trained squad carried out the attack, which began at 9.40 pm yesterday. The use of AK assault rifles and grenades hint at a highly specialised group, that may have been trained in Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Sources say that the attackers were part of a suicide group backed by operatives.


[Update 5:40PM EDT]

Indian blogger Ultrabrown is following with real time entries with photos from India. Ultrabrown reports that the methods used by the terrorists indicate domestic group not al-Qaeda. Also mentioned is how slow the American media were in reporting the story.

Stop The ACLU is collecting details and reactions.

Current blame is conflicted. Experienced sources are pointing the finger at Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) while another group called Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility.

FoxNews is reporting that four terrorists have been killed, nine have been arrested. Also, terrorists attacks have occurred outside the city of Mumbai and it will be some time before the full scope of the terror campaign is known.