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Early on Friday morning, sporadic gunfire and explosions continued at a Jewish centre where at least 10 Israelis were trapped or being held hostage.
Police said militants were also still holed up at the Taj Mahal hotel and the nearby Oberoi-Trident hotel along with an unknown number of hostages.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pinned blame for the attacks on militant groups based in India's neighbours, usually an allusion to Pakistan, raising prospects of renewed tension between the nuclear-armed rivals.
He warned of "a cost" if these nations did not take action to stop their territory being used to launch such attacks.
An estimated 25 men armed with assault rifles and grenades -- at least some of whom arrived by sea -- fanned out across Mumbai on Wednesday night to attack sites popular with tourists and businessmen, including the city's top two luxury hotels.
Police said at least seven of the attackers were killed and nine suspects had been taken into custody. They said 12 policemen were killed, including Hemant Karkare, chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai.
At least six foreigners, including one Australian, a Briton, an Italian and a Japanese national, were killed. Scores of others were trapped in the fighting or were being held hostage.
More than 300 people were wounded.
Commandos battled the militants through Thursday, often room to room in the hotels, to rescue people, police said. Flames billowed out of the buildings and loud explosions were heard during the fighting.
Mumbai, a city of nearly 18 million people that is the nerve-centre of India's growing economic prowess and home to the "Bollywood" film industry, was virtually shut down on Thursday as the battles raged.
But in a reflection of the poverty that sits cheek-by-jowl with the upmarket shops and restaurants in the city, hundreds of people were stretched out asleep on pavements and handcarts near the scenes of fighting.
The sea-facing Marine Drive in front of the Oberoi-Trident is a favoured spot for early morning walks, and some regulars came out for their constitutional despite the tension.
"I hear they (the security forces) have relaxed the rules a little so I came for my morning walk but I did not see any of the regulars," said Raja Ram Patil, 54, a local businessman.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the attack would be met with a "vigorous response".
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama condemned the incident. Obama, who favours a regional solution to the war in Afghanistan and is encouraging Pakistan and India to make peace over Kashmir, was monitoring the situation closely, an aide said. [nLR502129]
The Times of India published a photograph of one of the attackers, dressed in a black T-shirt and holding an assault rifle with a backpack over his shoulder.
At least some of them had come ashore in what police said was a rubber dinghy. They commandeered a vehicle and sprayed passersby with bullets, and fired indiscriminately in a train station, hospitals and a popular tourist cafe.
ANTI-TERRORIST COP
"The situation is still not under control and we are trying to flush out any more terrorists hiding inside the two hotels," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, chief minister of Maharashtra.
The death toll was only an estimate in an attack which brought the biggest chaos to the city since serial bombings in 1993 killed 260 people and injured hundreds.
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Mumbai ATS is specially trained and briefed to deal with unarmed innocent Sadhus, Military personnel, and their family and friends. They flopped again to tackle enemies of the country. Death of ATS chief reflects poorly on the professionalism of Mumbai ATS.
God bless India and the people. Once an individual caught by doing a terrorist activity, Do not take him from pillar to post for the witness. Because people like me are paying for it. Kill him then and there. We can eradicate terrorism form our country by killing each terrorist who are caught.
Its mindless mayhem by fundamentalists (irespective of religion affiliance) in the heart of Mumbai. For heaven sake, let's not attribute to any specific faith group. Terrorism itself is a blind faith perpetuated by people brainwashed for a devious cause. Whether a Muslim, Hindu or Christian does this, need to be condemned and act upon with sterm measures quickly. The unfortunate victims are the inncocent people and some brave duty bound officers, who lay down their precious lives in the process. Social life, business etc suffer irreparably. All political parties and leaders of all faith should unite to eliminate such anti-social and anti-national elements and condemn them publicly. Pls donot play politics here and take sides. Whoever, kills innocents are criminal
WAKE UP CALL FOR INDIANSThe terrorists attack on mumbai yesterday will not go down the memory easily in history of India. We Indians will show how much restraint and till when. The present government has failed in all respect with dealing with terrorism. They don’t want tough anti-terror law to deal with terrorists. All Indians and this government should know that to become a global player only economically will and cannot be achieved till there is security and all Indians feels safe atleast in their own country.I fully support the police action taken by whatever resources they had and pay condolences to the family of the brave policemen. At this movement I request all people of India to stay united and maintain peace and urge the government to take all necessary action internal and external to punish the people, any organization involved internal or external and any country who have participated in this terrorists attack on the India. this will some relief to the Indians.
Citizens of Bombay, Hindu m muslims or christians , stay untied and and flusth the terrorists out of our country. Make this place peacuful for all our brothers and sister's live in Harmony.
For too long our governments have been paralysed by a slowness and inability to act decisively. For too long we have been nice to Pakistan and slowly allowed its terrorists to seep through our borders in the name of 'friendship'. For too long our politicians have been afriad to take tough decisions. It is time to obliterate Pakistan and to wipe it off the map and off the earth. The Indian Army must launch a full-scale invasion and nuclear missiles must be used to end these despciable and cowardly attacks. C'mon Congress, you know why these attacks are occurring so let's solve it: ELIMINATE PAKISTAN.
this the time to send Javed akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt, Shabhana Azmi to talk with terrorist, they r the first one when mumbai police shot any gangster in encounter, where is they now
Whiel Mumbai was attacked yesterday, large ATS team was in Pune, searching for 4 hours house occupied by Col Puriohit's mother. This is the main news in IExpress's Pune Newsline. If this is the priority given to ATS, who will spend time analyzing the intelligence inputs? RR Patil? or Shivraj Patil? It seems Congress and NCP has been pushing police only to do their political work.
I'd like to hear what Raj Thackeray has to say now...does he want only Maharashtrian commandos to fight the terrorists?God help us from our muddle-headed leaders.RegardsDinakar
Nothing will happen to the terrorists captured. Meanwhile common people and Police will die. Families of the dead policemen will get award. The ATS and other agencies will continue to focus on finding proofs to somehow link R S S and other nationalists organizations to terror.
I didnt know this coming as you. Why do you blam your own Indian Muslims who are victims of this attck. Whom ever is the attacker lets face it together and stay united.
It was disheartening to see a news photo where a member of our police force (called upon to deal with some of the worst crimes of violence), was just armed with a lathi. I think Mumbai Police have had to deal with bhandhs, riots, bomb blasts, gang wars - they should be given at least the basic amenities to carry out their jobs. And a respectible hours and perks.
Let us expect a statement from Congress party blaming Sangh parivar for these attacks. Because the security agencies were after them only and so they must be the source of all terrorism.
Now india will wake up and go to the bathroom and then go back to sleep again. Just like they have been doing from the last 60 years.Nothing will change.
Lets be united as a country at this moment and lets not allow political and religious terrorists to make our Mumbai their home.
STOP RAIL
The terrorists are simply going about doing what they want to because they all know this is INDIA. The terrorists know that nothing will ever happen to them here, even if all are arrested. For starters, all the terrorists arrested to date MUST BE LINED UP IN FRONT OF INDIA GATE AND FIRED AT POINT BLANK RANGE IN THEIR HEADS WITH 100 AK57s, AND THIS MUST BE TELECAST "LIVE" TO ALL NEWS CHANNELS ON PLANET EARTH. Then our HUMAN RIGHTS guys will arrive. We shall ask them "Where were you when these aliens were killing hundreds of innocents?" IT HIGH TIME WE ACT NOW!!!
Iam so shock n very very sad to know about the incident.I pray to the god to get well soon of the injured n heartly condolence for the demise people.May thier soul be peace in heaven.Iam proud of the Karkare, he is the real hero just salute hm.
India has become a very soft target for terror now...anybody can come, strike and easily walk away...our security agencies just arrests few people, politicians make statements...and then all goes silent....till the next incident happens...till when are we going to take all this...Its time for Indian government to tackle terrorists ruthlessly. Shoot at sight..else if arrested, prove the case against them and hang them...no mercy on that...if we dont wake up now, may be it will be too late !
I guess now Raj Thackery should come out ans some his smartness in this kind of sensitive issues.......
India has become a very soft target for terror now...anybody can come, strike and easily walk away...our security agencies just arrests few people, politicians make statements...and then all goes silent....till the next incident happens...till when are we going to take all this...Its time for Indian government to tackle terrorists ruthlessly. Shoot at sight..else if arrested, prove the case against them and hang them...no mercy on that...if we dont wake up now, may be it will be too late !
Following are the natural questions that come to mind after these cowardly attacks on innocent people of my country:1. Which policital party would benefit from these attacks?2. Who would benefit after eliminating Mr. Hemant Karkare?3. Who would be blamed for these attacks?4. By dividing people of the country, which political party or communal group(s) would benefit?No prizes for the right answers.
now time has come for Govt to rethink about policy measures to tackla terroris. its time for indians to strike back source of terrorism
FOLLOW ISRAEL STYLE OF TREATMENT FOR THE TERRORISTS: NOT ONLY PUNISH THEM AND GO BEHIND THEIR FAMILY INCLUDING BOMBING TERRORISTS HOME
It is sad that at this moment we are still arguing how the people who have died protecting us must have been killed. They have been killed by Terrorists isnt that enough. I plead to the entire nation to unite and fight against the terrorists and let us not doubt the army. They are the ones laying their lives for us. And we should vehemently protest against politicians like Amar Singh who are playing dirty games and one who can dare to ask questions like:"what the officer was doing when he died in the encounter" after Delhi police Mr. Sharma died figting aginst terrorists. That was not enuf Amar Singh donated 10 lakhs to protect SIMI activists. Hail Amar Singh!!