India Under Attack

摘要

The sheer scale and audacity of the assault were staggering. Gangs of well-armed youths attacked two luxury hotels, a restaurant, a railway station and at least one hospital. Gunfire and explosions rang through Mlimbai overnight on November 26th-27th and through the next morning. As The Economist went to press, more than 100 people were reported to have been killed, and the toll seemed likely to rise. Several foreigners, including some from America, Japan and Britain, were among the dead. So were over a dozen policemen, including Mumbai's chief counter-terrorism officer. Up to 100 hostages, including selected American and British guests, were alleged to be held hostage inside a hotel.rnEven in a city-and country-with a grim record of terrorist violence, these were extraordinary scenes. The attacks started at around 10.30pm on November 27th, when gunmen started shooting and throwing grenades at Mumbai's main Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. Television footage showed two men shooting at random as they drove through nearby streets in a stolen police jeep.