Terror comes to Mumbai hotels
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Gunmen carried out a series of co-ordinated attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai last night, killing at least 80 people and injuring 200 more, according to BBC reports.
At least seven high-profile locations were hit in India’s financial capital, including two luxury hotels where hostages were reported to be held. Mumbai’s landmark Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel is reported to be ablaze, and was surrounded by Indian soldiers. Police said four suspected terrorists have been killed and nine arrested.
Another major hotel, the Oberoi Trident, is also reported to have come under attack, along with the city’s main train station and an unnamed restaurant. There BBC has reported gunfire and explosions taking place elsewhere in the city.
The situation at the two hotels remains confused. In a telephone call with TDA this morning Franz Zeller, Regional VP Operations of Taj Hotels, based at the Taj Mahal Palace, told us he had been unable to return to the hotel, and that it was unclear whether or not terrorists or hostages remained inside the building.
The Times of India meanwhile, has reported that two gunmen were enclosed in the Oberoi hotel, and that army units had been sent in to the hotel.
Some reports have said that the gunmen were “looking for Westerners”. The Times of India meanwhile said that up to 40 British nationals and other foreigners had been taken hostage. Andrew Stevens, a CNN journalist who was staying at the Taj with a CNN crew, estimated about half the hotel’s guests were Westerners at the time of the attack.
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