Britannia Radio

Five Israeli hostages killed at Mumbai's Chabad Center

November 28, 2008, 5:50 PM (GMT+02:00)

Jewish Center seized by Islamist terrorists in Mumbai

Indian commanders report the five Israeli hostages were killed by the Islamist terrorists in the course of an Indian commando raid which began early Friday, Nov. 28. Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni told a news conference Friday evening that no more information was available because the Indian troops had not finished clearing the building. The names of the victims have not been released. The center's director, Gavriel Holzman and his wife Rivka are believed to be among the victims. Their two-year son left the building with his Indian nanny Thursday.

The raid to rescue the hostages seized Wednesday began when choppers dropped soldiers on the roof of the Chabad Center which caters to Israeli and Jewish visitors to the city. Later a big hole was blown in an outer wall.

DEBKAfile reports the commando raid was agreed by the Indian and Israeli governments when it appeared that the chances of finding living hostages in the Chabad Center were declining as time went by.

Four Israelis staying at the Oberoi hotel were rescued with more than 100 hostages. The operation there appears to be over. In the rooms the bodies of 24 guests were recovered. The luxury Taj Palace Hotel is still under siege as Indian troops intensify their pressure on the huge building before nightfall. However, on Day 3 of the assault on Mumbai, the terrorists mounted a second attack on city's main rail station already hit Wednesday. DEBKAfile reports that the fresh attack indicates terrorists remained on the loose outside the primary three hostage locations seized Wednesday. Indian commandoes told the media that the gunmen were obviously well-trained, under 30 and showed no remorse and fired at anybody they saw.

The death toll of the Islamist terrorist assault has risen to 155 with hundreds wounded.

Indian sources identify the terrorists as Pakistani British citizens. The ship which brought them to Mumbai is thought to be an Indian vessel hijacked and sailed to Karachi, Pakistan. French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner is certain they are al Qaeda.