Barack Obama vowed last night that under his administration the United States would strengthen ties with other countries including India to “root out and destroy terrorist networks”.

With President Bush on his Thanksgiving retreat at Camp David, the President-elect’s statement underlined the urgency with which he must take charge of a chaotic legacy.

Mr Obama’s statement was delivered from Chicago by Brooke Anderson, his chief national security spokesman, in an apparent effort not to usurp the President in person.

“The co-ordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism,” Mr Anderson said. “The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks.”

The timing of the attack has many wondering if this is the spectacular attack intelligence experts had warned could greet the newly inaugurated president. If so, it was early.

News of the attacks in Bombay broke as government officials were packing up to leave for Thanksgiving weekend, prompting the White House, State Department and Pentagon to call many staff back.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Mumbai,” Robert Wood, the US State Department deputy spokesman, said in a statement.

“Our sympathies go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured, and to the people of Mumbai,” he added, saying the department was not aware of any American casualties.

The European Union, with eight MEPs in the city, expressed “horror and indignation” at the audacity of the attackers. The EU “shares in the mourning of the Indian nation and stands by its side during this dramatic test,” the French presidency said in a statement.

Gordon Brown pledged immediate support to the Indian Government: “These outrageous attacks in Mumbai will be met with a vigorous response,” he said. “I have sent a message to Prime Minister Singh that the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond, and to offer all necessary help.”

There was no immediate response, however, from Pakistan, India’s neighbour and the source of many militant attacks on its soil. Relations between the two countries have been at an historic high thanks to peace policies pursued by Pakistan’s new president Asif Ali Zardari.

Periods of rapprochement between the old enemies, however, have often been marked by violence by militants seeking to disrupt the peace process.

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