Update: police kill terrorists in India attack

Update:

Officials say police have killed four suspects in the Mumbai terror attacks and arrested nine more.

State home secretary Bipin Shrimali says four men were killed in two incidents when they tried to flee in cars. State Home Minister R.R. Patil says 9 others were arrested, but declines to provide
details.

Previous story:

A top state official says at least 78 people have been killed and 200 have been injured when gunmen opened fire on a crowded Mumbai train station, luxury hotels and a restaurant popular with tourists.

Johnny Joseph, chief secretary for Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, says the death toll could rise further.

The gunmen attacked the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold’s restaurant, a Mumbai landmark, along with the Oberoi and Taj Mahal hotels.

An eyewitness says the gunmen appear to have been targeting British and U.S. nationals and may be holding hostages.

The motive for the attacks was not immediately clear, but the city has frequently been targeted in terror attacks blamed on Muslim militants.

Teams of gunmen stormed two of the city’s best known luxury hotels and a landmark restaurant.

A British restaurant-goer at one of the hotels told Sky News television that the attackers were singling out Britons and Americans.

Alex Chamberlain says one young gunman ushered 30 or 40 people from the restaurant into a stairway and ordered everyone to put up their hands.

The gunman then asked one man where he was from, and when he said “Italy,“ the gunman said “fine.“

Chamberlain managed to slip away from the group as they were forced to walk up the stairs, but says most were still being kept hostage.