Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Commandos Free Hostages From Mumbai Hotels

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 27, 2008 8:31 AM CST

(AP) – Black-clad Indian commandos moved painstakingly, room-by-room, through two massive five-star luxury hotels today in a bid to free dozens of people trapped by suspected Muslim militants who attacked at least 10 targets in India's financial capital of Mumbai, killing 104 people. Hostages and several bodies trickled out of the Taj Mahal hotel, and soldiers ushered several dozen captives out of the Oberoi hotel.

The Maharashtra state home ministry said 45 captives had been freed from the Oberoi and 35 were still trapped inside. The rescue efforts, which continued throughout the day, were punctuated by frequent gunshots and explosions and orange flames billowed from the Taj Mahal. One of the hostages freed from the Oberoi told reporters he had seen many bodies inside the hotel. But he refused to give more details, saying he had promised police not to discuss the rescue while it was ongoing.

Indian Army personnel take positions outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Indian Army personnel take positions outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Rajanish Kakade)
Indian Army personnel move in to take positions outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Indian Army personnel move in to take positions outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Rajanish Kakade)
A fire officer escorts hotel guests outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
A fire officer escorts hotel guests outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Rajanish Kakade)
Policemen clear an area near an apartment where suspected gunmen have held a family hostage in Colaba, Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Policemen clear an area near an apartment where suspected gunmen have held a family hostage in Colaba, Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Saurabh Das)
Firefighters, unseen, try to douse fire at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Firefighters, unseen, try to douse fire at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   ((AP Photo))
Sharda Janardhan Chitikar, left, is consoled by a relative over the death of her two children as she waits for their bodies outside St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Sharda Janardhan Chitikar, left, is consoled by a relative over the death of her two children as she waits for their bodies outside St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Gurinder Osan)
An Indian Army soldier takes position outside the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
An Indian Army soldier takes position outside the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   ((AP Photo))
A terrorist attack victim's body is shifted to an ambulance to be taken for postmortem outside the St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
A terrorist attack victim's body is shifted to an ambulance to be taken for postmortem outside the St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Gurinder Osan)
The body of a terrorist attack victim is brought in an ambulance to the St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
The body of a terrorist attack victim is brought in an ambulance to the St. Georges Hospital in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Gurinder Osan)
A police officer points out the spot where alleged terrorists are hiding in a building housing a Jewish prayer hall at Colaba in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
A police officer points out the spot where alleged terrorists are hiding in a building housing a Jewish prayer hall at Colaba in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   (Saurabh Das)
Firefighters try to douse a fire at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
Firefighters try to douse a fire at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.   ((AP Photo))
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

More Newser Stories

Terrorists Reportedly Coked Up, on Steroids

Five Mumbai Terrorists May Yet Be 'Missing'

How 10 Young Men 'Took Over Our City'

Commandos End Mumbai Hotel Siege

Indian Army Says Siege Almost Over


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne