11pm
David Cameron has issued the following statement:
“I utterly condemn the attacks that have taken place in Mumbai, and the terrible loss of life that has occurred. My thoughts are with all those who have been caught up in these attacks. India and Britain stand together at this time in the face of terrorism.”
9.15pm update
The Times has a report here.
9pm update:
I've just had a text from Syed saying that he is OK but that his understanding from the ground is that 80 people are dead, 200 people are injured and that some tourists have been taken hostage. He gathers that more than 20 terrorists have been involved and says that there's a "long night ahead". Indeed so. We're all thinking of you, Saj and all the other victims of these atrocities, the horror of which is becoming more apparent by the minute.
---
8.45pm update:
Syed has been quoted by the Daily Star website as having said that he managed to escape from the hotel as the gunmen arrived.
"I was staying at the Taj Mahal with a party of MEPs from the international trade committee on a fact-finding mission. I had just left the hotel when the gunmen arrived and now they’ve closed off the hotel and we have been told not to go back. As far as I know the Taj Mahal Palace, the Oberoi Hotel and the Leopold restaurant have been attacked. One of my friends said he walked past the gunmen as they arrived, one just looked at him then turned round and shot someone else. He’s in shock. We have been texting people trapped inside the hotel to see if they are okay. One German MEP Erica Mann is hiding in the kitchen and I think British MEP Sajjad Karim is still in the hotel. "
---
8.30pm update:
News has reached me that a second Conservative MEP is in Mumbai and at the Taj Place Hotel, near to the scene of one of the terrorist attacks.
Syed Kamall, a London MEP, is another member of the 9- or 10-strong delegation from the international trade committee, which is currently staying there during fact-finding visit.
He has been in touch with one of his colleagues who has passed on the news that as far as we know he too is not injured.
It is being suggested, however, that one of the assistants to the delegation has been injured.
---
Sajjad Karim, the Conservative MEP for North West England who defected from the Liberal Democrats a year ago today has found himself embroiled in a siege in a hotel in Mumbai.
He has just appeared on Sky News, giving an eyewitness account of events, which have reportedly seen two people shot dead by gunmen and many others injured.
Mr Karim is not understood to have been injured.
Later reports on Indian TV suggested there have been a series of
terrorist attacks on a number of locations, with estimates of the
number of dead now varying from 10 to 25.
Jonathan Isaby
glad Saj is ok!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 18:31
COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.
Posted by: EPP pledge | November 26, 2008 at 18:35
people have been killed. It is not funny.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 19:05
COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.
Posted by: YMT | November 26, 2008 at 20:32
I know its all hear say but from the news it seems that Indian Government Officials have been targeted too. The last time something of this magnitude happened India and Pakistan ended up having over a million men lined up at their borders and a pebble skip from the spectre of nuclear war.
Posted by: YMT | November 26, 2008 at 20:43
I wish them well and commisserations to the injured assistant! It must be a truly frightening experience!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 21:03
Bombay police are reporting "at least 78 dead" according to the BBC at the moment, although no reference on the site to any Britons (let alone MEPs) involved.
The BBC obviously playing catchup to CHome news!
My thoughts and concern are with everyone there, regardless of nationality or religion. I pray, as YMT worries, that it doesn't escalate and there are no more deaths.
Posted by: Geoff | November 26, 2008 at 21:24
apparently Saj is still trapped.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 21:34
Appalling stuff.
Oh, and clearly it's "Bombay".
Posted by: CityBoy | November 26, 2008 at 21:53
Sky showing the Taj Hotel on fire!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 21:54
Sally, have you got a decent up to date news source, because as I said at 21:24, the BBC are well behind the game and I want to keep up with what is unfolding.
The latest online Telegraph report is here
Posted by: Geoff | November 26, 2008 at 22:05
go to Sky News Geoff. They are very up to date.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 26, 2008 at 22:14
Cheers Sally.
Posted by: Geoff | November 26, 2008 at 22:16
this is really terrible :(
Geoff if you go to fox news website they have a live link of the coverage of the Indian tv station report.
Posted by: meli | November 26, 2008 at 22:21
A good spot, Meli and thanks. I can't get Fox in my part of the (non-UK) world so I tend to forget that website. Nice one.
Posted by: Geoff | November 26, 2008 at 22:26
A terrible event - our thoughts are with all those involved, and their families.
I travelled to Delhi on a business trip in late September on the day when the first series of bombs exploded in markets there - while we were still in the air - so from the number of anxious texts and calls we all got when we landed I have some tiny appreciation of the torture some families in the UK must be going through right now.
I have been expecting to be sent on a following trip to Mumbai early next year, which I guess will now be dependent on the security situation.
As I say, my thoughts are with the victims and others caught up in this, including the two MEPs and their staff.
I might also take the opportunity to remind people leaving political comments on this thread regarding for example the EPP that this is completely inappropriate in the circumstances, and I hope that they are suitably ashamed of themselves.
Posted by: Richard Carey | November 26, 2008 at 23:05
Yes, I'll echo Richard in regard to very inappropriate comments. There is a time and a place, and this is not it.
I had base lockdowns because of the IRA a good few years ago when I wore a uniform and by a fluke of a delayed train I missed the Madrid station bombing by two hours. Nothing like that compares at all to our corresponents seeing people shot, that MEP having to hide in the kitchen...these people are going through hell.
Spot on Richard, certain posters should be ashamed.
Posted by: Geoff | November 26, 2008 at 23:22
Geoff: I had base lockdowns because of the IRA a good few years ago when I wore a uniform...Spot on Richard, certain posters should be ashamed.
Thanks, Geoff - and more importantly, as a civilian, thank you for your service. If our paths should cross, I'd like to shake your hand and buy you a drink...
Posted by: Richard Carey | November 26, 2008 at 23:57
Does ayone know if our MEPs are free? or are they still trapped?
This is appalling.
Posted by: True Blue | November 27, 2008 at 01:03
I haven't heard anything yet but hope they come out of it ok, with as many people as possible who are still alive.
Posted by: Raj | November 27, 2008 at 07:30
True Blue I haven't heard any more. The last thing we all knew was that Sajjad Karim was barricaded in the basement, in the dark, and the battery on his mobile had gone. We all hope and pray that he is one of the people that has been rescued but am afraid we must all wait for news.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 27, 2008 at 07:47
P.S. Sorry - just to add to that, Syed Kamall was outside the hotel and therefore is believed to be safe.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 27, 2008 at 07:49
Latest - Have now heard that Saj Karim is safe.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 27, 2008 at 08:07
Sky News now reporting that "The hostage situation in the Taj Hotel is ended". Apparently many guests still in their rooms but the hostages have been rescued.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 27, 2008 at 08:33
Sky is reporting the situation is still very much ongoing. Over 120 apparently dead and a gun and grenade fight going on at the Oberoi Hotel.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 27, 2008 at 09:25