Indian Financial Capital Mumbai Under Attack - Bomb Blasts and Indiscriminate Firing

Update 12:47 AM IST:

200 commandos are on their way from New Delhi and one ACP of police has been killed in encounter with the terrorist. St George Hospital has already received 50 plus dead bodies and various news channels are reporting 12 to 24 separate attacks. At this point the actual number of unique locations is still vague. Five star Hotels in Posh South Mumbai area, Train Stations and Hospitals haven been attacked complete picture still illudes the media and public at large!!

One eye witness Rakesh Patel from London and currently based in Hong Kong spoke to Indian news channel NDTV and described his encounter with the terrorists. He was taken from the restaurant to 18th floor by  "two terrorists aged  20 to 25 years were looking for foreigners with British and US passports and took them hostage in Taj Mahal Hotel. " Television pictures show the Dome of the old Taj Hotel right now.

Terrorists have taken 40 people hostages in Hotel Oberoi and Indian Army has been asked to be on standby. The encounter is still on after 4 odd hours shows that the terrorists are prepared for long haul. Elite commondos of National Security Guard (NSG) have been pressed into action. Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba was hosting a conference of Hindsutan Unilever Limited and the Managing Director of the company and its employees are also feared to be trapped inside the hotel.

It is now confirmed that 5 terrorists escaped from near Metro Cinema in a police van throwing grinades and firing from AK 47 assult rifles.

Update 12:08 AM IST:

Another update coming in is that Terrorists have escaped in a police van from near Metro Cinema, reporters at the venue are reporting that they were firing from the van and escaped. Police is out in full force and weapons drawn and are checking all major junctions. As Mumbai is the hub of major refinaries there is huge police presence around these locations.

There are terrorists still inside Hotel Oberoi and Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba, this is one of the oldest hotels in the country and overlooks the Gateway of India. Pictures on Television channels clearly show the hotel being surrounded by Armed policeman. It is also reported that there are a few Member of Parliament staying in The Taj Mahal Hotel. There are guests still trapped inside the Oberoi Hotel. It is feared that four terrorist are still inside the Oberoi Hotel. Prime Minister of India has confirmed that there are five blasts.

Trains on the Central Line have been stopped. Mazgaon area and Mumbai office of Intellegence is also under attack.

Original Story:

Financial Capital of India Mumbai is under attack. In a first of its kind terrorist action in India and also anywhere in the world, a city of the size of 15 million plus is under sieze. The attacks started at 9:30 PM IST and there were attacks in at least seven places simultaneously. It is a first for the terrorist to come out in open and fire at public with AK 47 and Hand grinades.

The seven places are : Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel, Oberoi Nariman Point, Leopold Cafe in Colaba, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle.

Right now there are encounters are reported from

Cama Hospital and J J Hospital, Oberoi Hotel as of now. Four international Cricket teams were to stay in Taj Hotel where some guests are still being held hostage.

There are reports that two of the most reputed hotels in the city viz. Hotel Oberoi at Nariman Point in Post South Mumbai and the second one is Taj in Colaba. Both the hotels have 20 plus stories. As per more news pouring in another hotel trident has also been attacked. Explosions are also reported from Santa Cruz, Vile Parle and capital cinema. suiside attackars are inside the hotel and there are reports of encounter continuing.

There are reports that one of the busiest railway station of  local trains VT station is also under siege, the local trains are the lifeline of the city Mumbai.

Injuries: It is reported that at least 12 individuals are injured, three policemen are seriously injured. Police is reporting that bombs and guns have been used in the attack. SO far there are no reports of any arrests so far. It is feared that four to five gunmen have entered the two hotels and are still un accounted for.