Gunmen held dozens of hostages inside two Mumbai luxury hotels Thursday, after militants killed at least 101 people in a series of brazen attacks that terrorized the city.
Chaos and fear gripped the streets of India's financial capital and sections of the city remained locked down as police traded fire with the heavily-armed men, long after the violence began Wednesday night.
Battles continued Thursday at two of the city's landmark hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi Trident, where gunmen reportedly targeted foreigners.
It was thought that no Canadians were injured or killed in the attacks, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, India's NDTV spoke with a travel agent who claimed that five of his Canadian clients were trapped inside the Oberoi hotel. That report had not been confirmed Wednesday.
Canadians concerned about relatives in the Mumbai-area can call:
- Foreign Affairs hotline - in Canada: 1-613-996-8885
- Foreign Affairs hotline - outside Canada: 1-800-387-3124
A B.C. man told Â鶹´«Ã½ that his 21-year-old niece, a citizen of India, was among the victims.
Nirbhye Singh Bhui, who lives in Surrey, said his niece Jasmine Bhurji worked as a manager at the Oberoi. She was one of the first people gunned down in the attacks.
Top Indian police officials were also targeted during the attacks, which also occurred at Mumbai's crowded train station, hospitals and a restaurant popular with foreigners.
On Thursday, there were also reports that gunmen had overrun the Mumbai headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group called Chabad Lubavitch overnight. According to NDTV, the sound of gunfire could be heard within the building.
Alex Chamberlain, who was dining at the Oberoi, told Sky News TV that a gunman in his early 20s stormed into the dining area looking for people with U.S. or British passports.
"They were talking about British and Americans specifically. There was an Italian guy, who, you know, they said: 'Where are you from?" and he said he's from Italy and they said 'fine' and they left him alone. And I thought: 'Fine, they're going to shoot me if they ask me anything -- and thank God they didn't," he said.
Chamberlain said he snuck away as the gunmen forced the restaurant's patrons to walk up a flight of stairs. It appeared that the group was being taken hostage, he added.
Indian police officials said that four of the alleged gunmen were killed as they fled in a car. Home Minister R.R. Patil added that nine more suspects were taken into custody.
Johnny Joseph, a government official for the region of Maharashtra, said at least 200 people have been injured and officials warned that the death toll could rise. According to the BBC, the number of injured was at least 287.
Gunmen attack police officials
At least three Indian police officials were killed in separate attacks, including the country's top anti-terror official, Hemant Karkare.
Other high-profile law enforcement officials killed during the attacks include Mumbai police commissioner Ashok Kamte and terror specialist Vijay Salaskar, The Times of India reported.
Shortly after the hotels were hit, police engaged in a firefight with the gunmen, officer A.N. Roy said.
"The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed, the encounters are still going on and we are trying to overpower them," Roy said.
Gunmen also opened fire at a police station in the city's south end.
"We are under fire, there is shooting at the gate," Const. A. Shetti told The Associated Press by phone from the police station.
Dozens of army commandos, bolstered by hundreds of troops, were rushed into Mumbai to assist police.
Co-ordinated attacks
Along with the hotel and train station strikes, armed teams also hit a local airport, the docklands and an exclusive movie theatre, The Times of India reported.
Janice Sequeira, a tourist who was eating at the Taj Mahal Hotel, said the situation was frightening.
"It was like the sound of loud crackers, not one but several, we just ran out of there," she said. The AP reported that several European lawmakers were staying at the hotel.
At least 200 people, including a "majority of foreigners," along with two Indian members of Parliament, were still stuck inside the hotel, MP N.N. Krishnadas told IBN TV earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, officials blocked off the Oberhoi hotel after gunfire erupted inside. Local media said that two gunmen were still inside the hotel, and that a commando operation had been launched.
Meanwhile, armed men with AK-47 rifles and grenades had barricaded themselves inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station, local media reported. The attacks started around 10:00 p.m. local time.
The Press Trust of India, a news agency, reported that gunfire had erupted at Leopold's restaurant, forcing customers to panic and flee. Blood stains and bullet holes could also be seen at the site.
An obscure group called the Deccan Mujahedeen claimed responsibility for the attacks Wednesday.
Another group, known as the Indian Mujahedeen, has been behind many recent strikes in India, and has recently threatened both Mumbai and senior police officials with attacks.
Increasing terror threat
Mumbai has been targeted in several attacks since 1993, when Muslim rebels bombed several sites in the city in retaliation for hundreds of Muslim deaths during earlier religious riots.
In 2007, several massive bomb blasts ripped through commuter trains and stations, killing 187.
Media reports said that the hotels had been on high alert since last week.
The violence comes as Indians participate in state voting. Elections are being held in the unstable region of Kashmir, and the violence could further destabilize the country ahead of national elections slated for next year.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon said Wednesday afternoon that the attacks were "savage" and "cowardly."
"We are working with the Indian authorities to assist any Canadians who may have been affected by these events. We will continue to monitor events as they develop."
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
