Commandos storm buildings in bid to free Mumbai hostages

Published on Friday 28 November 2008 09:04

INDIAN forces today stormed a Jewish centre in Mumbai to rescue hostages who had been held by gunmen since Wednesday's terrorist attack.

They were also clearing two hotels, the Oberoi Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace, which were taken over by gunmen who launched the attacks that have left more than 130 people dead.

Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters on to the roof of the Jewish centre where suspected Muslim militants were holed up, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-storey building.

Security officials said they expected the operations to be completed within a matter of hours.

Two large explosions and gunfire were heard from the Taj hotel.

An army general said at least one gunman was still alive in the hotel and had cut off electricity on the floor on which he was hiding.

The commando attack on the headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch was punctuated by gunshots and explosions from within the building as forces cleared it floor by floor.

It was not immediately clear if there were hostages in the building or their fate.