Major landmarks in Mumbai were besieged by terrorists last night between 9 and 10 PM. Gun shots and grenade blasts continued throughout the night killing over 100 and wounding nearly 250.
Fortunately, my friends and I are holed up in a different part of town, away from most of the attack sites, of which there are at least 10. Judging from the sites they've hit, the attackers are targeting the well-to-do and tourists. The Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Hotel (where our magazine hosted a large event recently), Leopold's cafe (a major tourist haunt), a movie theater, a hospital, etc. have all been bombed or affected.
The targets are a central meeting point and gathering place for Westerners. One friend, Nicole, works in the building next to the Oberoi Hotel. She could see gun men on the roof of the hotel and could feel blasts under her building. Another friend was locked in a nearby restaurant for the whole evening--unable to flee and head uptown to safety.
One of the worst parts of this situation is the fragmented information. Last night, friends in the US knew more than most of us in India. The media have given conflicting reports about numbers of people affected, and the imagery from the attack sites has been limited because many of the areas are cordoned off.
Word that the terrorists are targeting American and British visitors is frightening. I am both. A friend of a friend was in the Oberoi eating when the gunmen came in. Apparently, they asked the hotel managers for a list of foreign guests and their room numbers. They kept the Western guests in the hotel, but released those of Indian origin. If the perpetrators are trying to hurt the economy (the markets are shut today) or frighten Westerners, they have succeeded.
The police look completely flat-footed. Skinny men dressed in flimsy mustard uniforms and black leather belts do not intimidate. They have not been trained for this kind of attack. They are equipped with simple construction helmets and wooden rifles. But, there's not a bullet proof vest in sight. Even their stance, their body language, is cowardly.
A list has been started on FaceBook where people are supposed to enter their names to tell everyone they are safe--it's called MumbaiAttack. But, I feel a bit skittish about putting my name on some trackable list.
Mom wants to know if I plan on coming home. I just got back! I can't leave now.
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