Update: Terror attacks in Mumbai; 101 dead, over 900 injured

Terrible news in Mumbai — here’s the buzz roundup:

Indian police commandos rescued some hostages on Thursday as standoffs continued against heavily armed militants who a day earlier had swept into Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, in a shocking series of coordinated and bloody attacks.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a televised address that the attackers probably had “external linkages” — the first official indication that the authorities were likely to blame outsiders.

The hooded gunmen, firing automatic weapons and throwing hand grenades, attacked at least two luxury hotels, the city’s largest train station, a Jewish center, a movie theater and a hospital.

The Mumbai police said Thursday afternoon that the attacks killed at least 101 people and wounded at least 314. It was not immediately clear how many hostages were freed in the commando operation or how many were still being held. – from Nytimes

Indian commandos freed hostages from Mumbai’s Taj Mahal hotel today but faced continued resistance in other parts of the city from Islamist militants still holding between 50 and 200 of hostages and demanding the release of extremists held in Indian jails.

The commandos stormed two buildings in the late afternoon, seizing the lobby of the Oberoi hotel and taking positions around a tower block where a number of militants were believed to be holed up. Indian television reported that some hostages were freed from the Oberoi.

- from guardian

As many as 80 people were killed and 240 injured in the Indian city of Mumbai in grenade and gun attacks late yesterday, with five-star hotels among the sites targeted, officials said.

As many as 15 people may have been taken hostage at the luxury Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, the Press Trust of India reported. The news agency said a senior anti-terrorism officer was among those killed.

A little known Islamist group called the Deccan Mujahadeen claimed responsibility for the raids, PTI reported.

- from Bloomberg

Nearly 80 people were killed in a series of attacks apparently targeting foreigners in the Indian city of Mumbai late Wednesday, as heavily armed Islamist militants hit two luxury hotels.
A group calling itself the “Deccan Mujahedeen” claimed responsibility for the assaults on the landmark Taj Mahal and Trident hotels in the south of the city and a number of shooting and bombing incidents elsewhere, the Press Trust of India said.
Maharashtra state chief secretary Johnny Joseph said 78 people had been killed. Estimates of the number of injured ranged from 200 to 350.
Maharashtra state police chief A.N. Roy told the NDTV channel that “unknown terrorists” had opened fire in “at least seven to eight places” across the city. – from Google

Gunmen killed at least 80 people in a series of attacks in India’s financial capital Mumbai and troops began moving into one of two five-star hotels on Thursday where Western hostages were being held, local television said.

The army entered the Oberoi hotel and explosions were heard there and at the Taj Mahal hotel, where tourists were also said to have been taken hostage, CNN/IBN television reported.

Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the top of the landmark Taj Hotel and heavy firing could be heard, a Reuters witness said. – from Reuters