Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Scores killed in Mumbai rampage: Highly Condemnable


Picture source: Mumbai’s Taj Hotel, the scene of one in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks. (Photo: Pal Pillai/AFP/Getty Images)

Scores killed in Mumbai rampage
CNN, November 26, 2008

(CNN) -- In a brazen series of coordinated attacks, gunmen struck 10 sites Wednesday night across India's financial hub, killing scores of people and taking hostages in two luxury hotels frequented by Westerners, officials said.

Mumbai police spokesman Satish Katsa put the death toll at 87 and another 185 wounded, with nine of the attackers killed.

More than six hours after the attacks, fighting was still reported in the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Hotel Oberoi and Colaba Market, site of a number of restaurants, he said.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, chief minister of Maharashtra state, where Mumbai is located, told reporters that a total of 10 locations were attacked, including a railroad station. Watch a witness describe the chaos »

A Mumbai police spokesman, Satish Katsa, said gunmen took over the Taj Mahal Hotel and Hotel Oberoi, and were holding guests hostage on multiple floors. iReport.com: Are you there?

After the attacks, about 100 members of the Rapid Action Force entered the Oberoi. Shortly thereafter, the sound of gunshots came from inside the building.

British businessman Alan Jones told CNN.com how he was about to get out of an elevator in the Oberoi when another guest was shot.

For complete and latest coverage, click here

Also See:
Tracking the Mumbai Attacks - New York Times
Mumbai shootings: Reaction in quotes - BBC
Zardari, Gilani denounce Mumbai attacks - The News
Chronology of major terrorist atttack in India - The Hindu
Three top cops die on duty - Times of India
Chopra: Attack prompts tough questions - CNN

3 comments:

Unknown said...

It is a highly condemnable act against innocent people. Terrorists do not have a nationality or a religion, they just kill. This could be a spy agency vs spy agency match OR it could be a third one which is supplying aids to enemies of Pakistan and now doing same thing to India to fuel the fire in the region to alter the geography. Only time will unfold it.

Unknown said...

I would agree with Zia above and although it is very hard to maintain compsure during such times of crisis, let's not be too qiuck to blame and censure. There's alot simmering beneath the surface in politics and unfortunately political negotiation these days comes not with an attack of pens but with arsenal. The Mumbai attacks are a signal and wake up sign for all of us who feel that living in our posh and sophisticated suburbia we are cacooned and impervious to such threats of terror. What is most disturbing is the audacity and precision with which Mumbai has been ravaged. I for one never thought Mumbai could be so susecptible and India's secular image and politics ensure that resentent and dissent does not arise so that the country and the nation and ist people are sceure of their lives, work and identity. It is unfortunate though that there is no conclusive way to deter these attacks except perhaps to curb belligerenence and violence in our own communities and societies. To teach our children to look for peaceful methods to conflict resolution from playgrounds and classrooms to the streets.

Aisha Rajar said...

Terrorism can never be justified and any religion should not be blamed for the phenomenon. Terrorist belong to no religion and openly calling the terrorist Muslims or Islamic on the media again and again can cause hatred among already agitated viewers.
My concern are the after effects of such hatred which were seen back in 2002 Gujarat riots (The riots occurred after the Godhra train burning and it was said that the attack was by Muslim mob). Many innocent Muslims had to face the consequences of such agitation.