Two foreigners killed in Mumbai attacks
Agence France-Presse | 11/27/2008 3:14 PM
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MUMBAI - At least two foreign nationals, from Japan and Australia, have been confirmed killed and many others wounded in coordinated militant attacks in Mumbai, the Press Trust of India reported Thursday.
PTI, quoting hospital sources, identified the two dead as a 41-year-old Japanese man and a 49-year-old Australian.
It said the wounded foreigners were from Australia, the United States, Spain, Norway, Canada and Singapore. It also said seven British citizens were wounded.
The NDTV news channel said up to nine foreigners were among the dead.
Officials say a total of at least 100 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in the gun and grenade attacks by Islamic militants across India's financial capital that began late on Wednesday.
Singapore MFA confirms
A Singaporean is among those taken hostage during coordinated attacks across India's commercial capital of Mumbai, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
"The terrorists are holding several people of different nationalities as hostages. One Singaporean has been held hostage," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
"We are in close touch with the family of the Singaporean and are working with the Indian authorities to secure the release of the Singaporean and other hostages."
The Singaporean's identity was being withheld at the request of the family, an official from the ministry said at a news conference.
"As far as we understand, the Singaporean has not been harmed," said Jai S. Sohan, consular director with the ministry.
"My understanding is that the Singaporean is being held hostage at the Oberoi (hotel)," he said.
He said the ministry was arranging for the family of the hostage to fly to Mumbai and that the city-state has offered assistance to the Indian government.
Up to 100 people were killed in the attacks late Wednesday when gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenades hit the Oberoi Trident and the Taj Mahal, capturing an unknown number of foreign guests.
A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujahedeen" claimed responsibility for the late night assaults on hotels, as well as the main train station, a hospital and an up-market restaurant.
"Singapore strongly condemns the attacks," the foreign ministry said. "Singapore stands firmly behind the Indian government in its fight against terrorism."
The foreign ministry advised Singaporeans to postpone travel to Mumbai unless they have a pressing need to go.
