Indian forces besiege two hotels and a religious center to free hostages

New Delhi, November 27, 2008. - Security forces surround today two hotels and a religious center in the Indian city of Mumbai to free hostages still held by several terrorist attacks after last night caused 101 deaths.
Both the Taj and the Oberoi, two luxury establishments, were the scene of several shootings, while the Indian television speculated the unlikely beginning of a rescue operation. Third place in the presence of terrorists and hostages is the Nariman House, a popular Jewish center of the city.
The head of regional government, Vilasrao Deshmukh, has acknowledged that the situation is "serious" and still not under control, so its Executive has declared a curfew in the city center and has ordered a warrant for civil public.
Moreover, neither the University nor the Exchange nor schools have opened their doors in the city, considered the financial capital of India.
"This is a bold attack. It is a very serious situation and there are shootings in at least three places, "said Deshmukh.
More than 12 hours after an unknown number of terrorists still initiate a series of attacks on different parts of the Indian city landmark, the police has only specified that the attackers came by boat to the Gateway of India monument.
Several security videos captured images of some offenders, young men in black shirts, and the first shootings, recorded last night in hotels, bars and restaurants and the Victoria Terminus railway station.
The action was claimed by an unknown Islamic group, Deccan Mujahedeen, although a similar name to other organizations had carried out attacks in recent months in other parts of India.
According to the NDTV television channel, the police have arrested nine people after the attacks, while five terrorists have been killed in the operations of security forces, which so far have suffered 14 casualties.
One of the dead is the head of the anti-terrorist brigade of the city, Hemant Kalkare, who in recent weeks had become popular for its investigation into a bomb attack by Hindu extremists work.
Meanwhile, the area around the Taj and Oberoi hotels is virtually taken for hundreds of soldiers, police officers and commandos, who have asked broadcasters to cease transmissions to avoid hampering the rescue operation.
The Taj hotel during the night suffered a fire that is already controlled, although the morning an explosion occurred on the top floor, where it is believed that the terrorists are holding several hostages, some of them foreigners.
So far, no one knows how many foreigners have died in the attacks, though at least one woman died during the assault on the Taj hotel, the agency said India IANS.
"The terrorists have fired indiscriminately," said the director general of Maharashtra Police, AN Roy.
The Spanish consul in Bombay, Cesar Alba Fuster, told Efe by phone how he escaped the bullets in the Oberoi hotel where the delegation accompanying the president of the community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre.
"We heard explosions, but were told they were firecrackers wedding, common at this time. But then people started running, the noise intensified and a bullet struck near us, "he said.
The authorities have issued a nationwide alert and the Indian Government led by Manmohan Singh has called for an urgent meeting today the Cabinet to review the situation.
The attack has already been condemned by major world leaders and also by the power traditional rival, Pakistan, whose foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was an official visit to India.

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