More than 48 hours after terrorists first laid siege to India's financial capital, Mumbai, security forces are battling to flush out the last assailants who remain holed up in a hotel.
Indian security officials say at least two gunmen are inside the Taj Mahal hotel and gunfire and explosions could be heard coming from the hotel early today, Saturday. A fire was raging in the building.
On Friday, Indian security forces took control of both the Oberoi-Trident hotel and Chabad House Jewish center, clearing both buildings of gunmen and rescuing dozens of remaining hostages.Indian commandoes killed two gunmen and recovered the bodies of five hostages from the Jewish center, including that of a New-York based rabbi and his wife.
At least 140 people have been killed, including at least 16 foreigners, in the highly coordinated attacks that took place on Wednesday. The attackers, who arrived in Mumbai by boat, targeted some 10 locations, including hotels, a hospital, and a train station.
At least five U.S. citizens are among the dead. Some hostages said the gunmen were specifically targeting Westerners.High-ranking Indian security officials were also killed in the attacks.Nine attackers were confirmed dead and police say they have captured one gunman.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday he will tell "neighbors" that the use of their territory for launching terrorist attacks will not be tolerated. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said he does not believe Pakistan is involved in the attacks, and Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi also urged India to avoid jumping to conclusions.
Shortly after the attacks began, Indian media reports said a previously unknown group, called Deccan Mujahideen, had claimed responsibility. It is not clear if that claim is credible. Also, a British Foreign Office official said none of the attackers identified so far was British. Authorities in Britain are investigating claims by some Indian officials who said that at least one of the gunmen was British born.