Terrorists attack Mumbai

Terrorists Hit Mumbai

Terrorists targeted luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and Leopold's restaurant, in at least seven attacks in Mumbai, India', killing over 80 people and wounding about 260, agencies reported on Thursday. The gunmen were selectively targeting Britons and Americans, the police claimed. They were holding hostages at two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels. The Taj Mahal later burst in flames and several explosions were heard. The gunmen also attacked the south Mumbai police headquarters.

Several European lawmakers were among those still barricaded inside the Taj Mahal hotel. A British restaurant-goer at the Oberoi told Sky News television that the attackers were singling out Britons and Americans.

"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.

"I was in the main lobby and there was all of a sudden a lot of firing outside," said Sajjad Karim, who was in the delegation of European lawmakers visiting Mumbai ahead of a forthcoming EU-India summit. "And all of a sudden another gunman appeared in front of us, carrying machine gun-type weapons. And he just started firing at us... I just turned and ran in the opposite direction," he told The Associated Press in a mobile phone call.

According to the media, the Deccan Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. PTI reported on Thursday the group sent emails to several media outlets about the attacks.