Mumbai Hit by Terrorist Attacks

What a horrible shock. There has been yet another round of terrorist attacks in India, this time in Mumbai. Over 100 people have been killed -- reportedly including an Australian, a Japanese, and a Briton -- and twice as many injured.

The very calculated events started off around 10 p.m. last night with terrorists using bombs, guns, and grenades to strike several tourist locations in the city, mainly in south Mumbai. These included the Taj Palace & Tower hotel and Leopolds Cafe in Colaba, Oberoi hotel at Nariman Point, and the Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus train station.

The really scary thing is that the attacks seemed to be directed specifically at tourists, particularly Britons and Americans, who are being held as hostages in the hotels.

While terror attacks are sadly becoming a common occurrence in India, this one is more personal for me as I live in Mumbai and the locations are all too familiar. I just wonder where it will all end. I happened to be watching TV last night when the news came on, and at first the shootings were thought to be gang wars. It was only later that the situation was identified as something more sinister and an Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks. Today, the city is doing its best to continue on with trains and flights operating, although the stock exchange and many south Mumbai offices remain closed.

The British Foreign Office in London has given out a helpline number for anyone concerned about relatives in Mumbai. It's 020 7 0080000.