Mumbai Massacre

Coordinated attacks by militants armed with grenades and automatic weapons between 21.00 and 21.15 last night in India’s financial center struck terror into the heart of India, leaving 101 people dead and around 300 injured, figures which are sure to rise in the coming hours.

Photo: Mumbai Massacre

Among the dead are 81 Indian nationals, 14 police and 6 foreigners. The terrorists attacked 10 sites, including the main railway station, Cama hospital, a restaurant popular with tourists and Nariman House, which includes a Jewish Centre, where a hostage situation is said to be under way.

Two hotels were taken by the gunmen, the Oberoi Trident and the century-old Taj Mahal Palace, which was set on fire during the incident last night and where according to some reports on Thursday morning the hostage situation has ended.

According to eye witnesses, British and American passport-holders were singled out by the gunmen and were led away. 4 terrorists have been killed and nine arrested.

The Deccan Mujahideen, an Islamist group, have claimed responsibility for the attack but there are reports also of involvement by Hindu extremists. Election processes are under way in several Indian states and threats had been made to police officials in the months prior to the attack by Deccan Mujahideen. Three top police officials were killed in the attacks.

Photo: Terrorist attacks on Vietnamese children by US aircraft which strafed them with Napalm

Shailendra XAVIER

INDIA