Posted on 11/26/2008 1:47:25 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
A series of bomb blasts and shootings are now rocking Mumbai. The attacks are centred on the city's international hotels as well as transport hubs, including the domestic and international airports.
In the last few minutes, a second bomb has exploded at the Taj Mahal, although this may have been a controlled explosion, and the army has entered both the Taj and the Oberoi. One MP is reorted dead at the Taj, with two more believed to be still inside.
Hostages are being held at at least two hotels, with the terrorists said to be "looking for anyone with a British or American passport". An EU trade delegation was staying at the Taj.
Hospitals have reported receiving 80 bodies and more than 900 are believed to have been injured. MP Krishna Das, additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and the chief of the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad, Hemant Karkare, are amongst those killed, along with seven policemen.
Nine suspects have been arrested. Police earlier suggested that Fidayeen Islamic terrorists are responsible, but media have received a statement frm a previously unknown group called Deccam Mujihideen claiming responsibility. At least 24 terrorists are believed to be still at large. However, Hindu extremists are also reported to have been arrested.
The terrorists opened fire in one of Mumbai's smartest hotels - the Oberoi - at 22.45 local time, leaving seven dead and 25 injured. Navy commandos are now entering the hotel. In a bombing at the Taj Mahal hotel (pictured), MP Krishna Das and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar were killed, and 15 people, seven of them foreigners, are reported to be being held hostage there. The top floor is on fire.
Nearby, a boatload of explosives is believe to have exploded. The police have called in the army and National Security Guard for help, and the Maharashta chief minister, who is on his way to the city from Kerala, has asked New Delhi for more assistance.
There has also been an explosion at the Trident Hotel, where more hostages are being held, and two more blasts were reported at Mazgaon and BPT Colony at 00:15 hours. Terrorists are believed to have hijacked a police van, as unidentified firing from a van was witnessed, injuring one person. A VP petrol pump near the Colaba district was blown up, as was the Metro Cinema hall, with one bomb exploding inside a taxi near Vile Parle, just a kilometre away from the airport.
Mumbai General Railway Police Commissioner A K Sharma said that terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades entered the passenger hall of a crowed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal (CST) railway station and opened fire, as well as throwing a grenade which killed two or three people and injured at least 10, including a policeman. Gunfire was also reported at the nearby JJ school of architecture at 23.49 hours, and both CST and Dadar stations have been evacuated, putting the international and domestic airports on high alert. A taxi containing explosives has been stopped on the Western Express highway, which leads to the airport. Firing has been reported in the Borivali district, and Cama Hospital - a womens' and childrens' hospital - is the scene of an ongoing attack.
According to sources, Gujurat police warned Mumbai police that as many as 50 terrorists had infiltrated the city.
Firing was reported at Colaba, Nariman House, and Café Leopold - an area which attracts a lot of foreign tourists. There are reports of firing at the Mariott hotel in Juhu, where two terrorists were shot after a long chase and several rounds of firing, and casualties were taken to a nearby hospital. Some people were injured in the firing near the Oberoi hotel and were taken to hospital in police vans and ambulances.
Ministers have asked locals to stay put till the situation gets under control. X
Next Mumbai: Indian Mujahideen
********************EXCERPT****************
The Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Jaipur blasts killing at least 130 people in a span of four months, has now threatened to carry out attacks in Mumbai, report Agencies.
Wow, can’t say I’m surprised but it is a shame. I’m sure Obama will go talk with the terrorists and fix this.
Sure hope all those offshore help desks aren’t impacted.
Ruh Ro
Was the US in those threats?
Could this have anything to do with the pirates? They have a lot of money.
Based on the one link,...this is a Local thing....
It’s the Amish. I’m sure. Peace loving, buggy and horse people trying to make the news. I can’t think of any other religion of peace that would do this.
Ah, okay, so they’re in the Taj. Now we know where to fax those invitations to unconditional talks with the president-elect.
On another thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138678/posts
Feds warn of terror plotting against NYC subways
This number is way higher than other Media reports.,..so lets be cautious...
Why the hell anyone would want to live in NYC after 9/11 is beyond me! Especially with bambi in the white house, the man didn’t even want to talk to Sean hannity, and he wants to talk to guys that want to kill him?! I don’t understand, maybe its my community college education.
Prayers up for the innocent. Thirty rounds of justice for the terrorists.
I guess changing the name from "Bombay" to "Mumbai" to wash their hands of the oppressive British (who brought them peace and laid the groundwork of their prosperity) didn't protect them.
Is India working itself up to a full-bore civil war? Or is this just their usual background noise? Seems like things have been heating up from all quarters there. I guess that's multi-culturalism for ya.
You’re right. Whatever else this loss of life and devastation in a country that is a friend and ally is horrible.
This muslims and hindus in India have been increasing attacks on Christians specifically but also anyone not muslim/hindu.
Its a powder keg and both they and pakistan have nukes.
If they have taken Americans as hostages, will we be seeing horrendous videos over Christmas?
I hope not ... just wondering ... .
“Wow, can’t say I’m surprised but it is a shame. I’m sure Obama will go talk with the terrorists and fix this.”
Absolutely!
The black “messiah” will have no “preconditions” and sit down with them. He’ll make friends with the terrorists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr6uUtYguvg
So much for blaming the Muslims on this one.
I think the group is an Indian muslim group.
Accusing Mumbai Police’s ATS of harassing Muslims, Indian Mujahideen said in its email that it was closely watching the ATS.
Roger that.
Yersss, it must be the Amish. Which other Religion of Peace is there? Oh, wait, maybe they mis-spelt it, there is the “Religion of P*ss” — Islam
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