Carnage As Gunmen Strike Indian Hotels

[Innocent]

Just heard on the news that commandos have been air-dropped near Nariman House. Hopefully, it will end soon.

[quote][u][b]Commandos airdropped, go for final push at Nariman[/b]
NDTV Correspondent
Friday, November 28, 2008, (Mumbai)[/u]

There's been a third explosion inside the Nariman House in Colaba, breaking the eerie silence for the third time in the last three hours.

The building is still in darkness as the Army closes in. Snipers have taken position at Nariman House. About 100 commandos are closing in. Helicopters are circling above the building.

It's over 34 hours since Mumbai was taken over by terror. And there's still no end to the nightmare.

Operations are still on at Nariman House, the Taj Hotel and Oberoi Trident to flush out the remaining terrorists. There is report of one injured militant inside the Taj hotel.

Two to three terrorists are still in Nariman House but there are no more hostages inside.

At the Oberoi Trident, there are believed to be one or two terrorists inside but it's not clear if there are any hostages or how many people may still trapped in the hotel.

According to NSG Director General: "One injured terrorist is still inside Taj hotel. The stage seems to be set for a final operation there and the media has been asked to refrain from doing any live broadcasts from outside the hotel."

At least 125 have been killed in the encounter, including 14 policemen and six foreigners; 327 have been injured.

Places attacked:

# Trident Hotel, Taj Hotel, Nariman House, Wadi Bunder, Cama hospital, GT hospital, VT station, Bootleggers pub, Girgaum and Metro cinema.[/quote]
[url="http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080074405&ch=11/28/2008%207:49:00%20AM"]SOURCE[/url]

Edited November 28, 2008 by Innocent

[HisChildForever]

Not to make anyone panic, but I remember reading an article (posted here) about bin Laden threatening America/England and claiming that an attack greater than 9-11 was coming, and to "ensure" how serious he was, that he would have a pre-attack (for lack of a better word). Could this be it?

[cappie]

Indian commandos are storming a Jewish centre in Mumbai, where gunmen are holding a number of people hostage.

Troops abseiled from a helicopter into the building, as a ground assault was launched. Gunfire was later heard.

Security forces are still clearing gunmen from two luxury hotels, more than a day after attacks that killed more than 130 people and injured 300.

About 30 more people have been rescued from the Oberoi Trident hotel - the majority are said to be foreigners.

At first light helicopters swooped over the building in the Nariman business and residential complex in south Mumbai.

Commandos initially dropped "thunder flashes" or smoke bombs to create confusion and then several troops abseiled down ropes to secure the roof.

The BBC's David Loyn say they have been tentatively moving down through the building trying not to cause casualties among the hostages.

Earlier, a woman and child were seen leaving the building, but it was unclear whether they had managed to escape or were released.

The child was identified as the two-year-old son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holzberg, the main representative at the ultra-orthodox outreach centre. There was no word on the rabbi's fate.

Meanwhile, security forces are still moving room-to room at the luxury hotels targeted in Wednesday's attacks - the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident.

Our correspondent says that police and army sources are cautious about declaring that either of the hotels are yet fully under control.

He says the Taj hotel is a huge complex where militants could still be hiding. He adds that gunfire was heard overnight at the Oberoi.

In a separate development, the Indian navy has taken control of two Pakistani merchant navy ships and is questioning their crews after witnesses said some of the militants came ashore on small speed boats.

[Justin86]

Does anyone know who these people are or why these people are doing this?

Edited November 28, 2008 by Justin86

[Justin86]

A few updates. Indian security officals are saying it's almost over, but Fox News just reported a an explosion and some gunfire at Taj Hotel

[quote]URGENT: Nearly 2 Dozen Captives Released From Mumbai Oberoi Hotel

MUMBAI, India — Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters Friday onto the roof of a Jewish center in Mumbai where suspected Muslim militants were holed up, possibly with hostages, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-story building.

The assault came as commandos freed nearly two dozen captives from the nearby Oberoi hotel as they searched the building for attackers still holed up more than a day after a chain of attacks across India's financial center by the militants left at least 119 people dead.

Security officials insisted their operations, which had been going on for nearly two days, were almost over.

"It's just a matter of a few hours that we'll be able to wrap up things," Lt. Gen. N. Thamburaj told reporters.

The commando attack on the headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch was punctuated by gunshots and explosions from within the building as forces cleared it floor by floor, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

Hundreds of onlookers, many with binoculars, crowded onto roofs and in narrow alleys of south Mumbai, trying to catch a glimpse of the dramatic commando assault.
Related

It was not immediately clear if there were hostages in the building or their fate.

At the Oberoi hotel, at least 25 captives were rushed out and loaded into waiting cars, buses and ambulances.

The group, many clutching passports, included at least two Americans, a Briton, two Japanese nationals and several Indians.

Some carried luggage with Canadian flags, and two women were dressed in black abayas, traditional Muslim women's garments. The group included one man dressed in chef's uniform who was holding a small baby.

"I didn't see anything. I just heard loud blasts," said a man who smiled and waved to reporters. He said he was British, but declined to identify himself. "I was in my room. I didn't get out till an hour ago."

The well-coordinated strikes by small bands of gunmen starting Wednesday night left the city shell-shocked, but the sporadic gunfire and explosions at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels dwindled overnight.
[url="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,458564,00.html"]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,458564,00.html[/url][/quote]

[quote]URGENT: Large Explosions, Gunfire Heard From Mumbai Taj Hotel

MUMBAI, India — This is a developing story. Please refresh for the latest update.

Two large explosions and gunfire have been heard from the Taj hotel in Mumbai where commandos are hunting for gunman.

Army commander Lt. Gen. N. Thamburaj says at least one gunman is still alive in the hotel and has cut off electricity on the floor he is hiding on.

The incident came shortly after teams of commandos roped from helicopters onto the roof of the Mumbai headquarters of an ultra-orthodox Jewish group, and as hostages were being escorted from the luxury Oberoi hotel.

All three places had been attacked by gunmen Wednesday night. More than 119 people were killed and hundreds more injured when suspected Islamic militants attacked 10 sites in Mumbai.
[url="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,458584,00.html"]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,458584,00.html[/url][/quote]

In other news New York is apparently on High Alert right now as well.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Justin86

[Justin86]

Here a map of all the sites they attacked.

[img]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc131/justin86_bucket/40_25_112608_mumbaimap.jpg[/img]

Edited November 28, 2008 by Justin86

[Archaeology cat]

[Innocent]

Almost fifty hours later, it's almost over. The final terrorist is holed up in a restaurant and the commandos are trying to bring him down. All other terrorists at the Oberoi, Nariman House and The Tirdent have been killed, it's said. A commando Major was killed in the operation.

[Seven77]

there's still a gunman or gunmen at the Taj hotel... this is really sad....i was reading about the rabbi and his wife and heard about a little boy in the hospital who didn't know his family's gone...

[Innocent]

I saw on the news that the commandos have secured the Taj and signalled that the operation has been successfully completed.

Edited November 29, 2008 by Innocent

[Seven77]

thank God the siege is over