Taj Hotel Attack Puts NowPublic in National Spotlight (sanjay_on_fox.avi)

uploaded by politisite November 26, 2008 at 04:52 pm
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Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces are arguably the finest 5 star luxury hotels in India. It appears that their security is not up to the same standard. Terror struck the Hotel today along with many other areas around India (see bottom for NowPublic Coverage). Presently the hotel has fire raging and Terrorists have taken hostages.

NowPublic Editor, Sanjay Jha, was interviewed on Fox News putting NowPublic in the national spotlight, highlighting that NowPublic contributors, located throughout the world, can provide on the spot reporting from anywhere.

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Update: 23:37 GMT (UTC) Al Jazeera is reporting that troops are staging to storm the Taj Hotel

Flames and smoke poured from the Taj early Thursday, and at the Oberoi the military reportedly entered the building and a large explosion was heard shortly afterwards.

Another hostage situation was unfolding at Cama Hospital, CNN's sister network in India, CNN-IBN reported.

Earlier, A.N. Roy, the police chief of Maharashtra state, said there were ongoing battles at the two five-star hotels.

One witness told local reporters that gunmen tried to find people with U.S. or British passports and took about 15 of them hostage.

Andrew Stevens, a CNN anchor who was staying at the Taj with a CNN crew, estimated about half the hotel's guests were Westerners.

IBN, quoting police sources, reported hostages were taken at the both hotels.

Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades hit nine sites including the hotels, a cafe, a hospital and a train station in coordinated attacks, police say.

Maharashtra state government spokesman Bhushan Gagrani said 78 people were killed and about 200 wounded, while police confirmed 26 deaths.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely and stand ready to support the Indian authorities as they deal with this horrific series of attacks."