Bob McCarty Writes

Reports of Westerners being attacked and killed in Mumbai, India, are hitting the news wires now, with death counts ranging from 16 to 80 depending upon the source.

Taj President Hotel, Mumbai, India

Initially, Fox News Channel reported the Taj Hotel was attacked and is on fire and as many as 25 deaths in the city known as India’s financial center.  Moments later, an Indian reporter on the ground in the Southwest Asian country told FNC anchors moments ago that 80 are reportedly dead as a result of the attacks.

Just after 1 p.m. CDT, DNA India, a news daily based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), was reporting different numbers as follows:

MUMBAI: Terror struck the country’s financial capital late on Wednesday night as coordinate serial explosions and indiscriminate firing rocked eight areas across Mumbai including the crowded CST railway station, two five star hotels–Oberoi and Taj– leaving 16 persons dead and 50 injured.

Armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades, a couple of terrorists entered the passenger hall of CST and opened fire and threw grenades, Mumbai General Railway Police Commissioner A K Sharma said.

UPDATE 11/26/08 1:26 p.m. CDT: A crawler across the page at Express India reports 25 killed and more than 100 injured.  In addition, the site reports at least five shootouts have taken place and as many explosions rocked at Colaba and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) Station in southern part of the Mumbai late tonight.

UPDATE 11/26/08 2:03 p.m. CDT:  Express India is now reporting that attacks have taken place at seven locations, resulting in 60 deaths and 200 wounded.

UPDATE 11/26/08 3:45 p.m. CDT:  The Asian Age is reporting this:

Terrorists virtually took over posh South Mumbai on Wednesday night, attacking the Taj and Oberoi hotels as well as the Trident and the Ramada, the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus railway hub and other places with AK-47 assault rifles and grenades. At least 78 people were killed and around 200 others seriously injured.

Five police officers were among those killed, including ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was shot dead by the terrorists outside the CST police station; additional commissioner Ashok Kamte; encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and a DIG.

UPDATE 11/26/08 3:50 p.m. CDT:  DNA India is reporting that a little known outfit, “Deccan Mujahideen,” claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Developing…

FINAL UPDATE 11/29/08 11:28 a.m. CDT:  Will Mumbai Terror Attacks Spark New Conflict?