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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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Each and every politician (save a few) condemned this attack... WTF!! What help is it going to do??ATS Chief, Kakare, goes out with a bang... Killed in action... 86 killed(probably still counting) 15 kept for hostage....Yet 4 terrorist were killed and 9 arrested.... This is India!!! If you kill 1 person even in the feat of rage. you are hung unto death. But if you kill 3,4.....you either become a politician or spend your days lazying in "prison"... Hope everyone remembers Charles Sobraj choose to surrender in India... India is a strange country indeed!!!
Please do not go off topic here! It could be very well that some pakistani will divert discussion and trying to divide between indians. example is talking about Thakery topic...
think what we can do for this???? this is so shocking....every morning people hear the news of blasts and killings and pass their day. what we can do for this?? its tough for even the police to figure out the culprits. As they cannot check each and every person on the road for a bomb.Its the responsibility of each and every one of us. Already country is in the trap of global recession and over than all there bloody acts.where we are heading to???? My dear "terrorists" why you should kill people like this???this is shear cowardism attacking from behind.We the comman people dont know when and how we will die? when the bomb will blast?? shame on you...dumb blood suckers...hell to you..
i think indian goverment is sleeping , kill all the terrorists destroy their training camps in india and pakistan border ,M SING cabnent must resign go to punjab . Every Indian must take responsible to destroy terrorism ,muslim brothers please open your eyes , don't support terroists we all indian . WE PROUD TO BE INDIAN.
India must be fight alongside USA in Afghanistan only then can we identify the proper battle ground and enemy and neutralise them.If we dont act now we will not be able to act against the perpetraitors of this henious acts,I believe Dawood also is behind this,since the arms it seems have been smuggled into the country via sea.These people might have taken tours in mumbai before doing these acts.We need to create fear in hearts of such people.
This is a sad night in the history of INDIA, which will never be forgotten. We lost top officers who were very close and perhaps aware of Master Minds and their GURUs of Malegoan Blasts and others. May GOD bless all innocent victims of this MAD, Cowardly Act of Barbarism by Terrorist or some misguided youth. Its NOT A TIME FOR Asking RESIGNATION from each other, NOR BJP should make it a poll agenda, instead BJP should stand with State Govt. and work for the solution and punishment of accused. All EDUCATED people who comes on this website should act humanly and should not call people by their religion/region/language etc. We are all INDIANS. The only solution is to get UNITED and FACE THE BAD TIME. JAI HIND, VANDE MATARAM.
I would urge, request, beg, plead with political parties and community leaders to desist from provoking the common man and carrying out a violent backlash to this abhorring incident. They need to think clearly and not cause anymore damage to our infrastructure and not put anymore pressure on our police and armed forces which are already spread thin. We all know that anymore violence will do more harm than good to everybody. To some of the commentors here, we need to stop discriminating communally amongst us. Do not play into the hand of the perpetrators and weaken the system further.Please pray for peace and quiet and demand strict action against the perpetrators non-violently. This is for the best of Mumbaikars and other fellow Indians.
"CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY" book writtten by late famous writer DF Karaka. what a word.ATS was only spending time Poor Sadhvi's under instrusctions from CM and Sonia. now it is time this govt Resigns. Mr.PM bettter Resign and you are stupid man , unfit for politics.Will Maharastra CM wake and stop blame game.I think it handy workof some congress leaders to win the Elections and put Blame on RSS and BJP.Congress is now ready to scoop down to any level to retain seats and sit in the power.SHAME ON THEM
Kudos to the UPA for bringing India to the level of Pakistan!! Now, investors will run away and cricketers will not tour India. It is great that UPA could achieve this feat within 4 years.
i feel sorry that pato type bill is still ignore even after happening this, our Govt. is still sleeping
I salute to Mr.Ashok Kamte
Only a sick man like Laloo Prasad Yadav can do this to gain political mileage. He accomplished a lot today, but the actors of the gun violence were moolahs!! Prosecute criminal politicians with not civil rights.
Part-IIAnd also this pattern of claiming the responsibilities of terror attacks via e-mail needs to be investigated as in case of Jaipur blast as well, initially they were looking for a lady by name Meena who was named by a rikshaw puller Vijay. Next day, media reported that some low profile organization "Indian Mujahideen" (which no one heard of before) claimed the responsibility of Jaipur blast and the direction of investigation changed by 180 degrees. Remember that Nathuram Godse assasinated Gandhiji in a garb of Muslim. In Nanded blast case where two VHP/RSS activists died while making bombs, muslim skull caps and fake beards were recovered. This case should be investigated from all the angles rather than conviniently accepting claim made through e-amil. How can anyone be so sure about the authenticity of e-mail?
Part-ICouple of days back, there was a news that Hemant Karkare is receiving death threats and today I read a saddenning news that he has been shot dead. It seems there was a whole strategy to eliminate him in such a manner that his killing gets overshadowed by other attacks. May be, other big leaders may have figured on his list involved in Malegaon blast investigation. This could have been the best strategy. Killing him when he was on his duty so that his killing can be blamed on "Terrorists".
2 of the most 'in-the-news' officers were unfortunately shot in the same attack...one of them was in the national news lately..... am hoping that the 'fact' that they were shot by terrorists is believeable...
This is a dastardly act. Whether it is a mujahideen or is a plot from the same malegaon suspects, they have to be dealt with firmly. The PM and home minister should be proactive and fight this evil. Let us all support the defence and police who are fighting this terror. Pointless to point fingers at religions. We must be united to defeat this terror. Think of ousting this govt in the coming elections for their inability to protect Bharatiyas later. Now is the time to unite and support the military and police fighting terrorists. Jai Bharat; Vande Maataram
Sambhavaami yughe Yughe; but karkare could have gone after the real terrorists instead of disrobing Sadhvi. When UPA treats india's local thugs lalu, amar etc like kings., the job of the italian woman is easy, in eliminatng hindus.
I am watching this incident in Bombay and at the same time, I was inquisitive about an incident, which occurred on Sept 29, 2008, known “Malegaon Blast”. In that case, an Indian Army Lt. Col. is involved with Hindu Fundamentalist activities. He is under arrest and the person who was conducting the case is the DIG of Maharashtra - ATS (Anti Terrorist Squad), Mr. Hemant Karkare. As you know, Mr. Karkare has been killed along with two other high-ranking police officers in this Bombay shooting. That Lt. Col. had several meeting in one private military school, which is run by RSS prior to this “Malegaon Blast”. ATS was closing in on several high profile RSS leader and some Hindu spiritual leaders; one of them is already in custody. Mr. Karkare was closing in and his killing at this time, I think it raises some eyebrow. It could be that other fundamentalist groups are involved but suspicion should also go to RSS, I think they are into something big to cover up. It is a very big co-incident.
Folks! If the terrorists read some of the stuff posted here - they would be patting themselves on the back!! They want to divide India and play Hindus against Muslims etc. Terrorists have NO religion. Their only aim is to create chaos and confusion and take maximum advantage of that. We will only be falling into that trap if we do not act as one voice and one people and one nation. Since when are we expecting the so called governments or political parties to help us. As Indians we have learnt to be resilient despite politicians and governments. At this darkest hour, let us all unite and be constructive in our comments rather then starting to blame each other and playing into the terrorists hands. Each town should develop its own anti-terrorism vigilance force formed by ordinary citizens from all religions and all walks of life. Then and only then we can face this madness being thrown upon us!! WAKE UP INDIA! WAKEUP INDIANS! The country has never needed us more!!
It is unfortunate that some have attacked Hindus in their comments not knowing real facts. It is inefficiency of our country leaders and the political game they play is to be blamed for the death of innocent civilians. Country should hold PM and Sonia accountable these terror attacks.
Great Day for India!
Govt of India will give job to terrorist's sons and daughters. Mulayam and Amar Singh will provide legal aid services to those criminal arrested. MM will sleep peacefully. And politically UPA will not allow POTA. Feel pitty of common man's plight to survive. India badly needs army rule.
If the government of india cannot take care of its citizens why doesnt it make the states independent. If the government cannot take action, then states will to become an independent country is not far.
Congress and ATS were busy harassing hindus without any evidences. When will they learn? When will congress and others stop minority appeasement policy? How many more bombblasts are need before congress can recognize the threat of Islamic terrorists?
This all stems from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the failed Camp David Accords in 2000... if someone just went to the root of the problem and helped to find a compromise on the territory issue once and for all there would be no angry and homeless Palestinian refugees and thus no more people who feel that they need to utilize terrorism in their desperation to induce some kind of change in their sad situation. I'm not excusing their atrocities in any way, but the terrorists motives cannot be ignored if an end to the violence is to be found.