40-50 hostages still in Oberoi hotel: navy officer

Mumbai, Nov 27 (IANS) About four to five terrorists continue to hold 40-50 people hostage inside the Oberoi Trident hotel, a navy officer said here Thursday, as India's financial capital tackled its worst terror strike.

'There are about four to five terrorists in the Oberoi hotel area and 40-50 hostages. However, we can't confirm that the hostages are all guests at the hotel,' said Vice Admiral J.

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S. Bedi, the Western Naval Commander.

'It's a motivated, well planned terrorist attack and they are out to cause damage,' Major General R.K. Hooda, general officer commanding (GOC) of the Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa area, told reporters.

The officers said they were not sure when the operations against the terrorists would end.

'We can't quantify the time that it will take. We are searching for explosives and even bodies that are being taken out will be checked thoroughly (in case they are booby trapped),' Hooda said.

In the wake of the terrorist strike in Mumbai that began Wednesday night, the army and the navy have taken control of the Oberoi. At least 101 people have been killed and 250 injured as terrorists laid siege at seven places in Mumbai, targeting not just the Oberoi Trident but also the Taj hotel just across the road from the Gateway of India as well as hospitals and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (VT).