Death toll reaches 195 as Mumbai siege ends

Published on Saturday 29 November 2008 10:01

THE siege at Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel is over, police said today, as the death toll hit 195.

Indian officials say that all the militants have been killed after three days of terror in the city.

The news comes as Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted there was no suggestion of a British link to the atrocity in the wake of reports that up to seven UK-born Muslims were involved in the massacre.

Police commissioner Hassan Gafoor said the hotel was under their control after commandos launched a new assault early today, killing the remaining two terrorists.

He said: "All combat operations are over. All the terrorists have been killed." Officials added that 195 people have now been confirmed killed and 295 wounded. At least eight Britons were injured, and one wealthy British businessman was killed.

Reports had said seven of the gunmen had British links and quoted Indian sources claiming that suspects from Leeds, Hartlepool and Bradford, as well as British-born Pakistanis, were involved. The gang were even reported to have used BlackBerrys to monitor the reaction in the British press during the siege.

But Mr Brown said: "At no point has the Prime Minister of India suggested to me that there is evidence at this stage of any terrorist of British origins, but obviously these are huge investigations that are being done and I think it will be premature to draw any conclusions at all.

"We remain steadfast and firm, standing with India and all other countries against any form of terrorist activity, and we will be vigilant in both helping the Indian authorities and in making sure that in every part of the world we support those who are fighting terrorism."

A team of detectives from Scotland Yard is flying to Mumbai to help Indian authorities with the investigation. Officers are also meeting Britons returning on flights to London's Heathrow Airport and handing out leaflets appealing for information.

Scottish banker Roger Hunt was among those trapped in the luxury Oberoi Hotel during the siege. The father-of-three was led to freedom by troops yesterday after hiding for 36 hours in his 14th floor room. A senior manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland, he has now flown home to his family in Banffshire.

Indian commandos ended the siege of the hotel yesterday, while other forces descended from helicopters to storm a Jewish centre where at least 10 hostages were being held. At least 25 captives were rushed out of the Oberoi Hotel and loaded into waiting cars, buses and ambulances.

The violence began when over a dozen terrorists attacked 10 sites across Mumbai on Wednesday.