More than 60 people have been killed in a series of attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai with two five-star hotels among the targets of gunmen armed with powerful assault rifles and grenades.

Maharashtra state police chief A.N. Roy told the NDTV channel that “unknown terrorists” had opened fire in “at least seven to eight places” across the city.

“Fifty-eight bodies have been brought in. There are another 50 who are injured, some critical, who have been transferred to the nearby J.J. Hospital,” a spokesman for the city’s St George’s Hospital told AFP by telephone.

Television reports put the death toll as high as 80, while the Press Trust of India said as many as 200 people had been injured.

At the time of posting, CNN is covering this as an ongoing attack – hostages held at two or more hotels – terrorist gangs hurling hand grenades from the roofs of the hotels.


UPDATE:

At least 78 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in a series of attacks by terrorist gunmen at seven sites in Mumbai, including two luxury hotels.

Johnny Joseph, chief secretary for the Maharashtra state of India, said at least 78 people died and an estimated 200 were injured. He warned the death toll could rise further.

The attacks have taken a tragic toll on the city’s top police brass: The high-profile chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare was killed; Mumbai’s additional commissioner of police (east) Ashok Kamte was gunned down outside the Metro; and celebrated encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was also killed.

The attacks appeared to be aimed at getting international attention as the terrorists took upto 40 British nationals and other foreigners hostage. The chairman of Hindustan Unilever Harish Manwani and CEO of the company Nitin Paranjpe were among the guests trapped at the Oberoi. All the internal board members of the multinational giant were reported to be holed up in the Oberoi hotel.

Two terrorists were reported holed up inside the Oberoi Hotel and commando operation was on.

An unknown outfit, Deccan Mujahideen, has sent an email to news organizations claiming that it carried out the Mumbai attacks.