Terror Grips India’s Largest City

Updated 10/26 10:20 PM EST

Indian Army commandos flood into the five-star hotels of Oberoi and Taj as the confirmed death toll in overnight violence in Mumbai passes triple digits. Police have killed at least four suspects and arrested nine others, but the violence is ongoing.

State government chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh termed the present situation as “very grave” and militants are still reportedly holed up in both hotels. Gunfire has continued to be reported at the hotels into this morning, and explosions have been reported. The hostages in the Taj have been reportedly freed,

Among those confirmed dead are 11 police, and the head of the state’s anti-terror squad. Southern Mumbai’s Cama Hospital was also reported to have come under attack, though Minister Deshmukh denied reports that the hospital was presently under the control of the militants. CNN has reported that the Cama situation is “resolved,” but it was not clear in what way.

Little is known as of yet about the attacks, but a group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed credit for the strike. Witnesses on the scene described the attackers as very young, and clad in T-shirts and jeans. In the hotel raids, the militants reportedly demanded the passports of foreign guests, and singled out anyone with an American or British passport.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.