Terror strikes Mumbai; 80 dead, over 250 injured

Terror strikes Mumbai; 80 dead, over 250 injured

MUMBAI: Terror struck India’s financial capital late on Wednesday as coordinated serial explosions and indiscriminate firing rocked nine areas across Mumbai including the crowded CST railway station, two five star hotels, Oberoi and Taj, leaving as many as 80 persons dead and over 250 injured.Armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades, a couple of terrorists entered the passenger hall of CST and opened fire and threw grenades, Mumbai General Railway Police Commissioner A K Sharma said. The terror strike which began at Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus(CST),formerly known as the Victoria Terminus(VT), claimed 30 lives in the premises of the station alone, police said. Three persons were killed in a bomb explosion in a taxi on Mazegaon dockyard road and the rest were gunned down at Taj Hotel. The victims in the hotel were its employees.The lobby of the Oberoi hotel was on fire and the hotel evacuated, eyewitnesses said. Maharashtra DGP A. N. Roy said Wednesday's attack in "at least seven places" is a "terror strike." Indian Special Security Force Commandoes were rushed to the CST, which wore a deserted look and train services suspended. Some people were injured in the firing in Oberoi hotel, and taken to a nearby hospital in police vans and ambulance. Firing was also reported in Taj hotel. Firing was reported at Colaba, Nariman Point and near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, formerly Victoria Terminus and it was still continuing. Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in suburban Vile Parle. A bomb went off in a taxi in Mazegaon dockyard road. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader L K Advani spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai.