101 killed in terror attacks in Mumbai

Source: CCTV.com | 11-27-2008 17:09

The death toll in the terror attacks in the Indian financial hub Mumbai has risen to over 100, with nearly 290 others injured.

An apparently coordinated series of explosions and indiscriminate firing took place late on Wednesday night.

Indian police say they've shot dead four gunmen and arrested nine suspects. And troops have surrounded two five-star hotels where western hostages are being held.

As dawn broke Thursday, Mumbai's landmark Taj Mahal Hotel was still burning.

Assailants burst into the building the night before, taking hostages including western tourists.

Rescue operations continue as firefighters work to put out the blaze.

Witnesses say up to three-hundred people were inside the hotel, gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades stormed the building.

Tourist from London, said, "They kept just saying to us all be quiet, stay calm, it will be okay, but nobody actually had any information. We can just hear it all. We could hear it we knew when the army were in because we could hear the army running through the hotel and we just heard all the gunfire, we heard all the blasts."

There were also explosions at the Oberoi Hotel, another favorite hang-out, where an unknown number of tourists are being held hostage as well.

Police say the coordinated attacks targeted several other popular spots, including the Cafe Leopold, considered the most famous restaurant in the Indian financial hub.

Shivraj Patil, Indian Home Minister, said, "The terrorists attacked Taj and Oberoi and one hospital and Chatrapati Shivaji terminal, and at one or two other places also. It seems that they have kept some explosives in some vehicles and they are firing at the people who are in the hotels."

Local media are reporting that an organization calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen says it is behind the attacks.

The previously obscure group has sent an e-mail to news organizations claiming responsibility.

Reports say the gunmen have been specifically targeting Britons and Americans.

It's still unknown that exactly how many terrorists are holed up in the two hotels.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei