Jeremy Page and Rhys Blakely, Bombay, and Philippe Naughton, London
Download 'Too Hot', an exclusive Specials track from iTunes

Israel: rescue operation badly planned | Graphic: how terror spread | They came to kill and maim | Survivors' tales | Analysis: Bronwen Maddox | Andreas Liveras shot dead | The specialist in 'encounter killings' | Was al-Qaeda was pulling the strings? | Opinion: Maria Misra | Leading article: Massacre in Bombay | Markets: India's shares dive
Updated at 18.53 GMT (00.23 Bombay)
Indian special forces fired grenades through the windows of a luxury Bombay hotel tonight against one or more Islamist gunmen determined to fight to the death.
Some 48 hours after launching co-ordinated attacks on the country's commercial capital rumours persisted that at least one of the terrorists involved in Wednesday's attacks was a Briton of Pakistani origin.
The Foreign Office said that Indian authorities had confirmed that there was "no evidence that anyone, either of those shot or those in custody, was British".
Today, at the Jewish cultural centre where a group of militants had been holed-up, there were premature celebrations when a group of commandos walked out with their rifles in the air after ending their siege of the building. It soon emerged that the five hostages held inside the centre had all been killed during the course of a day-long assault.
The Brooklyn-based Chabad-Lubavitch organisation confirmed that among the dead was Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, who ran the ultra-Orthodox group's outreach centre in Bombay. The couple's two-year-old son, Moshe, was smuggled out of the building last night and is now with his grandparents.
An Israeli rescue service which had sent a mission to help with the siege at the Chavad Lubavitch centre said that it thought all the hostages had been killed. "Apparently the hostages did not remain alive," the Zaka service said in a brief statement. The mission of the Zaka volunteers is to rescue the living or gather up all collectable pieces of flesh and blood so that the dead can be properly buried.
The Israelis' deaths brought the total number of foreigners known to have killed to 18, including three Germans, two Americans and two French nationals. One Japanese, a Canadian, an Australian, an Italian and a Singaporean also died and at least five other Israelis are missing.
The only known Briton confirmed dead was Andreas Liveras, a 73-year-old yachting tycoon shot dead in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel on Wednesday night.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra state, Vilasrao Deshmukh, was quoted as saying today that two British-born Pakistanis were among eight gunmen arrested by Indian authorities.
Both Gordon Brown and David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, played down the claim, although said they could not rule it out. The Foreign Office said tonight that Indian officials were now denying that Mr Desmukh had ever made the remark.
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£24,250 - £30,346
MI5
London
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
Amongst all these comments there does not seem to be any sorrow/pity mentioned for the innocents who have been killed in Iraq .Afghanistan and Pakistan by the USA and NATO and who are euphemistically swept under the carpet and described as colatteral damage. The sorrow seems to be selective .
hortense vaughan, sydney, australia
As someone who travels a lot this is deeply depressing for the world, hopefully India will take action against these cowards.
Steve, Market Rasen, UK
I cannot understand what gives people the right to think they can do this kind of thing. I cannot understand it as a human being. It leaves me feeling painfully saddened and disillusioned. My heart goes out to the friends and families of those murdered.
Rita Koterba, Isleworth, Middlesex
What cowards! Destroying innocent lives of children and adults in the name of religion extremism
it is just slaughter with no cause
It is so SICK
these people need to be stopped immediately
Susan, London,
My respects to those killed in this massacre and condolences to their relatives. I hope now the west will understand that tolerating hatred and intolerance only breeds more violence and motivation for the perpetrators. Those murder worshipers must be stopped at all costs anywhere in the World.
Eli, Tel Aviv, Israel
My heart goes out to all these innocent people killed and injured during this horrible murderous act! Rest in peace. To the families of these people, I offer my sincerest heart felt sorrow, and know that other people around the world, grieve with you today. We cannot give into these terrorists.
Krystal, New York, United States
Mr. Angus McFarlane, Bucharest, Romania
Tis a large coast, how muach can you cover at all times with many boats mvoing in and out of internaitonal waters?
Mr Chuds, Bristol,
Suicide attackers who don't 'just' blow themselves up taking plenty victims like Bali, London, Madrid. Suddenly new recruits wanting to 'fight'. (Matyrdom or money?)
One seige may've been a plan gone wrong. Multiple hits, seiges, including a Jewish (not Israeli) target. Hope not a new chapter.
Bosco, Lisbon,
If the British government does not realise that India, US, Israel and the UK are the targets of a common enemey, its escapism from reality. The enemy doesnt just live in Pakistan but also under guise in England and India. There is no reason behind this apart from religious fundamentalism.
Ab Charan, Pittsburgh, USA
Views like Martin's in London are flawed. The "terrorist" is thinking exactly the same thing about the UK/US Governments. Like it or not, they view Bush and Blair as "terrorists", too.
The lesson here, if we do not want this to spiral into an awful cycle of horrific death, is to TALK.
Mick, Cork, Ireland
What we really need to do is engage the very young. The late teens that find themselves with very little to live for and an adolescent thinking on life and death. We need to give them hope and a sense of meaning so they won't join these activities in their romantic urge to "do something."
Poonam srivastava, Hudson, United States
If it truns out to be true that some of these terrorist were of British citizenship then their families should be arrested and be sent back immediatley to Pakistan .Let them tell you after an year how they are treated there. They will soon know what misuse of British hospitality means.
kosh, london, uk
May their souls rest in peace. It was morbidly obvious that the terrorists were not going to let their Jewish go. Who will rid us of religion??
Kiarie, Biberach,
Interesting that the Foreign Office states that no Brits are involved, as terrorists or victims - we have known for over 24 hours that one victim was British - what is wrong with them - are they in denial or just plain stupid ?
peter smith, Montreal,
John Taylor highlights a very important point. Why do people born in the UK turn to terror? Because no amount of integration makes you acceptable to the British population unless you completely abandon any trace of your cultural origins. You're always a foreigner who by chance was born in the UK.
Adam Dfynaw, London,
The shape of things to come in the UK if we carry on the way we are!
Lee, Manchester,
Tran, what do you mean the militants are doing it for the right reason? Are you referring to Kashmir? I'd like to clarify this before I get into reasons why you might be absolutely misguided!
nandini Bhalla, Mumbai, India
Death to all terrorists of any ilk!They and their facilitators must be dealt with swiftly and harshly. Terrorism in any form is anathema to all peace loving peoples. Perhaps hanging on yardarms and being left for the buzzards like we did to the pirates of old should be re-instituted! An OLD Salt.
Cleve Brown, Hickory Grove, KY, USA
My homage to the bravery of the Indian security forces; the honourable actions of the staff of the Taj & Trident hotels who went beyond the call of duty; and the solidarity of the citizens of Mumbai. My prayers are with the families of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to stop the heinous acts
Swati, Mumbai, India
why is a religion killing people? please dont say that bad people are in every religion, this argument is getting old. india needs to be a world leader now, and stand up to pakistani aggression.
kenneth smith, perris, usa
Thanks to 11 years of Labour misrule, Britain can now add exportation of terrorism to its other achievements like binge drinking, teenager pregnancies & STD's where we lead the world. Gordon Brown aided by Jacqui Smith must be really proud of another world leading first for the country.
Mike, Alicante, Spain
let us pray for 706,899 people died in iraq, afganistan and 150 people in mumbai, we shud pay our tribute to all who died
umair, london, England
iam an Indian & I know dat indians are mostly moderate people and have let in all forms of immigration from across the world from ages.This soft mindset makes us so vulnerable to be attacked from all sources and then forgetting everything in few weeks.
what india needs is strong central leader
piyush, aaa, india
If anyone still thinks that anti-western terrorism is a George W Bush inspired fraud to mask US imperialism, perhaps now they will realise that these "people" are just evil cruel fanatics who have a twisted view of humanity.
My heart goes out to all those who have died, been injured or suffered
Bruce, Canberra, Australia
When will all these terrorist convert to become decent citizens? It is high time that the United Nations do something to stop these senseless killings. O God we pray to You that these terrorists will stop now. Amen.
Tom Krosing, Wembley, UK
India should forcefully create a 100 km wide border, from withinin currently pak held areas, along its border with Pakistan to ensure peace in house..
ved, toronto, canada
It's Mumbai, not Bombay. Catch on.
Angad D, Toronto, Canada
To a peace loving nation...... this act of the terrorism is deplorable....... My heart goes out to all those people in Mumbai and my prayers are with each and everyone affected by this senseless act. or terrorism .
elizabeth, taka,
Israel offers help;Help is refused;Special forces storm the building; Hostages die;India faces criticism from Israel. is there some cultural issue here that jews can only be resuced by jews ?
Julian, Bristol, UK
Marty - British is your nationality and English is the language. You cannot be English in this context- it is factually incorrect. The nationality of the terrorists is not important but the radical attitudes they possess & their total lack of compassion for human life. They were absolute cowards.
Ron, Birmingham, UK
Interesting how the Times uses "Bombay", while all the media in the USA use "Mumbai". Hey, guys, the Empire's gone!
Nigel, Berkeley, CA, USA
What is a British Pakistani? Is that like an Irish Englishman or a Scottish Welshman?
I've never been aware of any of them before.
Mark Watson, Barcelona, Spain
So Sad...lets see how brave and swift the response is from all politicians and world leaders
kathie, Brisbane, Australia
The backers and financiers of this crime must be hunted down where ever and who ever they are.
The Civilized nations unfortunately need to have hit squads that can deal with these sort of people without mercy.
No cause can justify such of acts and there needs to be zero tolaration for it.
Vijay, NJ, USA
no words to describe sadness of this event, enough is enough for India now, I really hope Indian authority begins to organise to tackle this head-on like UK and US.
India must show unity and no fear to these types of coward brain-dead fanatics.
YP, London, UK
"Whoa... "British-born Pakistanis".. Surely you mean British citizens of Pakistani origin. "
It's got nothing to do with semantics or where they come from. For these fanatics, life has no meaning.
We need to eradicate the roots; which is an extremely complicated task.
Clive, Caracas, Venezuela
would not be surprised if some are British, any riff raff from around the world can gain citizenship so easily it`s just like a flag of convenience. sad to say it will have to get worse before the wets agree to changes to who can reside here.Take the cameras to the ports and airports.
Peter, London,
British ? - This is why I try to call myself English - even if it is not accepted by our Scottish rulers
Marty, London,
Britain must co-operate fully in this war. India may just be on the verge of joining what appears to be a fast growing coalition.
Shabbir Jacob, Lisbon, Portugal
I wish to pay my respects to all of those killed in this cowardly terrorist attack, irrespective to nationality. R.I.P all involved..
Dom, yeovil, GB
Whoa... "British-born Pakistanis".. Surely you mean British citizens of Pakistani origin.
John Taylor, London,
It's just so sad that this Death Cult, continues to aspire to kill innocent people. None of these people, who've been killed or injured, have anything to do with Kashmir, yet in their deluded minds it makes sense.
I can only wish all affected, my prayers.
jon, NY, USA
The lesson to be learned is to patrol the coastal area near to Mumbai. And why wasn't it being done, anyway? Seems a bit obvious.
Mr. Angus McFarlane, Bucharest, Romania
AK Awan. Nothing justifies wanton killing of undefended civilians like this. Perpetrated by cowards who long for martydom in some mistaken belief that this will bring them eternal happiness. This is sick and sad at the same time and any sane person cannot condone it.
Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK
Kashmiri's in India, have the best deal of all South Asians, they have their own state assembly which ratifies all the laws of Indian parliament before they can be implemented. The elect their own representatives. People from other provinces of India cannot settle in Kashmir.
Rizwan, Toronto, Canada
The lesson here is, surely, NOT to cave in to terrorism, not to appease every murderous radical group, by realising their dreams for them. One must bear in mind that there was an ongoing peace process at the time of this slaughter, just disproving the fact that it is the fault of assumed grievances.
martin, london,