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Hotel captives freed in Mumbai

By Newsroom blogger

Updated on 28 November 2008

Latest developments in Mumbai inevitably dominate the morning news meeting.

The plan for the programme is still evolving, with the 33 minute news slot being extended to a full hour. The Channel 4 News team have all arrived in Mumbai and there are already a number of angles emerging.

Lindsey Hilsum saw around 90 people coming out of the Trident-Oberoi as the hotel was cleared and will be talking to "as many as we can possibly fit in the package".

There are also reports that one gunman is still holding a small number of hostages in the Taj and "dramatic scenes" at the Jewish centre, where Indian commandos were lowered from helicopters onto the roof of the building before entering to confront the assailants.

Mumbai counter attack

Watch latest footage as Indian security forces work to seize back control of the Jewish centre at Nariman House, Mumbai.

An "ongoing mass of rumour" accompanies the developments. Shots were reported to have been heard at the Chhatrapati Shivaji station terminus which was one of the original terror targets, but these reports were later denied by police.

"It's an extraordinary story to tell - 90 people in the hotel for 36 hours."

"Are the people leaving the Oberoi hostages or people who were trapped in the hotel? There is a difference."


"We may think we know what happened, but we only know the stories of people who got out early."



"We may think we know what happened, but we only know the stories of people who got out early."

"If we put in too much, we run the risk of not actually getting to the heart of the 36-hours under siege."

The route of the dinghies the gunmen used to enter Mumbai may also be clearer today. Another boat has now been found near the shore, with the coast guard suggesting that it could have been hijacked. One dead body was on board.

"On the suggestion that the gunmen could be from Pakistan, if it starts to harden up then it could strain relation further between India and Pakistan."

"They've never found any hard evidence of a link between Pakistan and terrorism in India before."

"They've never caught anyone alive before."

A number of people are speaking up to condemn the attacks, with Gordon Brown and the Indian foreign minister both giving statements. Israel has also offered security help, which has been turned down.

The police handling of the situation has also come in for some criticism already.

"We need to tell the story of what they did and when they piled in."

"In a hostage situation it seems very heavy-handed to start throwing grenades around."

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