Update: The standoff in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai narrowed to a final running battle between commandos and at least one gunman who was still roaming the charred corridors of a luxury hotel, the Taj Mahal, but the murderous assault on this city continued to shake the nation and ratcheted up tensions with neighboring Pakistan.
American intelligence and counterterrorism officials said Friday there was mounting evidence that a Pakistani militant group based in Kashmir, most likely Lashkar-e-Taiba, was responsible for the deadly attacks on Mumbai.
After two days of fighting, Indian security forces killed the attackers in one luxury hotel in the city known as the Oberoi Trident, freeing civilians trapped inside, as well as gunmen occupying the headquarters of an Orthodox Jewish organization nearby, ending the conflicts there.
All told, police said, more than 150 people, including at least 22 foreigners, were killed in the attacks across the city, which began on Wednesday night, as more bodies were carried out from the two hotels and the community center.
More…
Gunmen seemed to be sure of hotel terrain…
Troops battle to end Mumbai siege…
Commandos storm Jewish Center…
India points the finger at Pakistan…
British citizens among killers?
New York guards against Mumbai-like attacks…
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Officials said as many as 30 people could still remain hostage in a luxury hotel tonight after terrorist attacks that have plunged the Indian financial capital of Mumbai into chaos.
Indian military commandos continued to exchange fire with an unknown number of militants one day after coordinated groups of gunmen shot and blasted their way through tourist sites around Mumbai on Wednesday night, apparently targeting American, Israeli and British citizens for use as hostages.
By late today, the toll had reached 125 dead and several hundred wounded. Among the dead were at least one Australian, a Japanese and a British national, officials say.
Indian officials say commandos are engaged in a fierce gunfight with terrorists holding an unknown number of hostages inside the luxury Oberoi-Trident hotel complex in Mumbai.
Police have taken at least seven people out of the two-hotel complex, one of three buildings where gunmen are still holding hostages in country’s financial capital.
The roof of the Oberoi hotel was ablaze as a result of explosions inside the building.
Commandos reportedly were sweeping through the adjoining Trident hotel, checking to see if terrorists were using it as an escape route.
There are reports that some of the terrorists may have fled Mumbai in stolen government Jeeps, and that police and military forces were setting up checkpoints and roadblocks around the city.
The Associated Press reports one of the rescued hostages told reporters he had seen many bodies inside the hotel. He did not give his name.
Indian TV, meanwhile, reports government officials fear the death toll at the Taj Mahal hotel could be high, with as many as 80-90 bodies inside. Some of the dead appear to have been killed by the gunmen, while others may have died in subsequent explosions and fires.
Reuters reports a militant at the Lubavitch Center phoned an Indian TV station with an offer to talk with government officials about the release of hostages.
The caller reportedly also complained about abuses in Indian Kashmir.
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I was thinking about this- could this be a bin Laden/al Qaeda distraction? Something about this attack just doesn’t seem right to me, I feel as though there HAS TO BE AN AL QAEDA Connection to this. I have a bad feeling about this and what else could/will happen. Anyone whom reads this agree with me?
YES,I AGREE WITH YOU. WHEN I HEARD THE U.S. OFFERED TO SEND HELP, MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS NO….THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO. WE CAN NOT LEAVE OUR COUNTRY UNPROTECTED. THEY WOULD LOVE FOR US TO SEND OUR EXPERTS OVER THERE, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ON THE HOME FRONT IF THEY WERE NEEDED HERE. THEY ARE GOING AFTER UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND BRITONS. WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET THE UNITED STATES TO SEND OUR EXPERTS THERE??? THEY WANT TO CAUSE DISTRACTIONS BECAUSE THEN THEY CAN STRIKE AT OTHER PLACES QUICKLY WHILE WE ARE WATCHING SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT IS ALL TOO FISHY TO ME TOO.
Many Indians believe that ISI funds terrorist groups based in South Asia, including Indian Mujahadeen, Huji, and al-Qaeda. As the US mounts strong pressure on al-Qaeda, is it possible that ISI simply re-diverts funding to other groups? The situation in Taliban-controlled tribal areas in Pak and Afghanistan, as well as the fighting over Kashmir, MUST be brought under control. There is a common link, and many in India believe that link is Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan’s ISI.
“Forgiving a Terrorist should be left to the GOD, but fixing their appointment with GOD is entirely our responsibility.”
-Quote from INDIAN ARMY.
The tribal areas of Pakistan have been a problem for a long time now. Intelligence indicates Osama bin Laden is hiding in the tribal area….Osama bin Laden continuously instructs his clan of cowards to cause death and destruction around the globe. How long is the world going to tolerate this type of action by these low-life individuals? I’ve said it before and I will repeat it again, “It’s time to make those “tribal areas” into “ruble areas”. Action is being taken to get Osama bin Laden alive and once that is occomplished that area should be leveled!