Religion of Peace hits Bombay tourist hotels, 80 dead, 250 injured

Many ‘Terror Attacks’ Hit Mumbai,” from SkyNews 

“strike terror in the hearts of the infidels” says the immutable Koran. But don’t you worry: its only a tiny minority of extremists who do that, really!

*  Terror attacks in Mumbai; 80 dead, over 250 injured

*  Australians flee terror attacks in Mumbai, India

* Not that this has anything to do with Islam, you Islamophobe, you!

Gunmen conduct a ‘coordinated attack’ across Mumbai’s major tourist hubs, with over a dozen deaths and many injuries reported.

There are emerging reports of many fatalities and at least two dozen people injured in at least seven different attacks across the city.

They are also reporting more attacks in the suburbs, with five or six different incidents across the city. There may be three bombs involved, as well as gunfire.

Update: Mumbai Shootings Update. “Unknown terrorists have conducted a coordinated attack across Mumbai’s major tourist hubs, with over a dozen deaths and many injuries reported,” from SkyNews

* Man, if I ever catch those ‘unknown terrorists I will have a serious talk with them about their grievances. Think it helps? If not, why not?’

Local television news report at least 10 deaths as a result of the attacks.

The APnews agency is reporting a local hospital official saying at least 25 people have been brought to the city’s G.T. Hospital near the scene of the shootings.

Local police say they consider the attacks an act of terrorism….

Indian television channel NDTV says a major attack that hit the city’s main link to the airport, the CST train station, where gunmen opened fire in the station hall.

Gunmen Attack Luxury Hotels in India

Gunmen have targeted luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks across India’s financial capital.NDTVare reporting an eighth attack at the JW Marriott hotel.

Terrorists are reportedly still holed up at in three places, including Oberoi and Taj hotels.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are advising all Britons in Mumbai to stay indoors.

The FCO also report a further explosion near Mumbai airport.

The death toll is unknown. Officials have said at least 25 people have been wounded.

Reuters are reporting at least 18 fatalities.

The Times of India are reporting as many as 80 people killed and 250 injured in the attacks.

The police commissioner A. N. Roy said: “These are terrorist strikes in at least seven places.”

He added: “The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed.”

Tory MEP Witnessed Shootings

Gunmen opened fire on two of the city’s best known luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi.

They also attacked the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold’s restaurant, a Mumbai landmark.

It was not immediately clear what the motive was for the attacks.

An eyewitness report says one of the attackers asked tourists if they were British or American before opening fire.

Alex Chamberlain added there was “no doubt in my mind” that the attacks were the result of a fundamentalist Islamic terror attack….

* But we can’t really blame a whole religion for the misdeeds of a few now, can we..?

Terror attacks in Mumbai; 80 dead, over 250 injured

* US News: Penn Station, home to the Long Island Rail Road, gets a warning from the FBI of a “plausible but unsubstantiated” threat of a terrorist bomb attack 

MUMBAI: Terror struck the country’s financial capital late on Wednesday night as coordinate serial explosions and indiscriminate firing rocked 

       Mortal remains of a taxi after terror attack at western express highway near domestic airport in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

eight areas across Mumbai including the crowded CST railway station, two five star hotels–Oberoi and Taj. (Watch ) 

At least 80 people were dead and 250 injured in the terror attacks, hospital sources said. 

Two terrorists were still inside the Oberoi Hotel and commando operation was on. 

Two terrorists were killed at Chaupatti in Mumbai, police said. 

Terrorists hijacked white police jeep near Metro cinema in South Mumbai . 

Firing was also reported near Maharashtra state assembly building in South Mumbai. 

Armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades, a couple of terrorists entered the passenger hall of CST and opened fire and threw grenades, Mumbai General Railway Police Commissioner A K Sharma said. 

The terror strike which began at 10:33 PM at Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus(CST), formerly known as the Victoria Terminus(VT), claimed 10 lives in the premises of the station alone, police said. 

Three persons were killed in a bomb explosion in a taxi on Mazegaon dockyard road and an equal number were gunned down at Taj Hotel. The victims in the hotel were its employees. 

The lobby of the Oberoi hotel was on fire and the hotel evacuated, eyewitnesses said. 

Maharashtra DGP A N Roy said tonight’s attack in “at least seven places” is a “terror strike.” 

Sharma said 30 persons were injured in the CST incident. Commandoes were rushed to the CST which wore a deserted look and train services suspended. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is cutting his Kerala visit and returning to Mumbai. He described the situation in Mumbai as “very serious”. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned terror attacks in Mumbai and assured Maharashtra government of all assistance. 

The NSG commandos were on standby and national disaster response force unit is being rushed to Mumbai, the Ministry of Home Affairs officials said. 

Some people were injured in the firing in Oberoi hotel, and taken to a nearby hospital in police vans and ambulance. Firing was also reported in Taj hotel. 

Firing was reported at Colaba, Nariman Point and near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, formerly Victoria Terminus and it was still continuing. 

Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in suburban Vile Parle. A bomb went off in a taxi in Mazegaon dockyard road. 

SRPF personnel then entered the iconic BMC building — just opposite CST — to take aim at the assailants, BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak said. “We fear some of the assailants are still inside the station and we want to catch them if they come out,” a police official said. 

Vikhroli police station senior inspector Habib Ansari was on his way to work from his Colaba home when he saw two armed men, with sophisticated weaponry, trying to run into bylanes near the Gateway of India. 

“I rushed back to Colaba and all policemen, including GRP and RPF personnel, were called up,” he added. 

Bhisham Mansukhani, a journalist, was attending a wedding reception at the Taj’s Crystal Room. “I was inside the bar when glass shards almost hit my eye,” he said. “More than 200 people were escorted inside Chambers, a business centre inside the hotel,” he added.

Mumbai shooters targeted Americans, British

More on Mumbai, or Bombay, as it used to be more commonly known, in calmer days. “Foreigners targeted in coordinated Bombay attacks,” by Rhys Blakely in the Times

Gunmen stalked a hotel in Bombay looking for British and US passport holders during co-ordinated attacks across the city that have left at least 80 dead.A series of shootings and bomb blasts at luxury hotels and bars in the south of the city hit at least nine locations. Security sources said “a major terror attack” was unfolding amid reports that foreigners had been taken hostage in one hotel.

Shootings were reported in the lobby of the five-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel in the Colaba area of south Bombay and at the nearby Leopolds bar, a popular destination with western backpackers. Witnesses described pools of blood and bullet scarred walls at both locations.

A witness at the hotel told a local television station: “They wanted anyone with British or American passports.

“They wanted foreigners.”

It was feared that the death toll could rise significantly….

A police spokesman said: “We have only a very tenuous grasp on what is happening so far. People are scared. The incidents being reported are so many. Gunmen are under siege at several locations but we are worried about hitting civilians”

Because the police, unlike the attackers, are civilized human beings.

Australians flee terror attacks in Mumbai, India