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Terrorists Continue to Hold Hostages in Mumbai, India

Aired November 27, 2008 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: I'm Kyra Phillips here at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. It's 1:30 p.m. in Mumbai right now, roughly 26 hours after India's largest city, its financial and entertainment capital, was plunged into panic and death. Here's what we know right now, if you're just tuning in.
Mumbai police say 125 people are dead from gunshots, explosions or fires at some of the city's best-known landmarks. Dozens of people are believed to be still held hostage or trapped at two hotels and a Jewish center. Though we have seen a number of hostages freed, that still is happening in three specific areas.

Now explosions and gunfire have been heard throughout the day at all three of these sites. Authorities estimate now more than two dozen attackers carried out this highly-coordinated rampage, and eight or nine have been killed.

Also dead is the chief of the anti-terror squad of the Mumbai police.

Now, police say the attackers came from the sea, docking near the monument called Gateway to India. It's not known where they began, though an unknown group calling itself Deccan Mujahedeen has claimed responsibility in e-mails to Indian media.

Now, the marauders hijacked cars, even a policeman, and split up, targeting a possible cafe, a train station, then a hospital. Two other groups hit the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels.

All night and day, we've heard breathtaking stories from witnesses, survivors and authorities. And as the siege continues, so will the coverage no other network can match. Only CNN has CNN-IBN, our sister network in India, and your source for all the breaking news from Mumbai.

Let's get straight now to Sara Sidner. She's at the Taj Hotel. She joins us on the phone. We're also going to talk a little later with Andrew Stevens. He will join us as long as Reza Sayyaf (ph) in Islamabad.

Are we going to go ahead and go straight to Sara? All right. Let's go to Sara Sidner right now. Bring us up to date as we start the top of the hour.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, right now, we're standing. I'm looking at the Taj. We've been here several hours. It's a fire that is currently burning, and it's been burning for the past hour or so.

We walked around the back of the Taj, because right now we are situated directly in front of it. Walked around the back and noticed that the flames had come down the side of the building a bit, on the right-hand side, where there was some fire around 10:30 or so last night. But this is new. This is a new fire that appears to have broken out at the very top of the building and now seems to be burning down one part of the Taj.

It's a beautiful historic building, 105 years old. Lots of wood, though, inside, so that could pose a real problem. There are also -- we know there are people inside that are just holed up in their rooms. We haven't been able to talk to people who are inside, who are holed up in their rooms, and who are just waiting for someone to rescue them. They don't know the difference between someone knocking on their door who may be a terrorist or someone knocking on their door who may be someone there to rescue, like the army. So it is still a tense situation here.

Police have been very, very quiet about any details of the number of people inside, but certainly (AUDIO GAP) still going on. Just started -- this all started when this building was burned by a group of men. A lot of people are saying they seemed like they were very young, who came in with grenades and with AK-47s, and stormed this building and started shooting people at random and then started taking hostages or trying to take hostages and people were told to go into their room, lock the doors. (AUDIO GAP) And try to be safe. And that is what many people have done. We just don't know how many people are still stuck there, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Sara Sidner, I want you to stay with us as we continue to follow the developing news that's happening there specifically at that hotel. Jim Clancy, with CNNI.

Jim, you and I have been talking throughout the morning. Obviously, you've been following the political side of things, also the fact that you and I both have been there. We stayed at these various hotels.

I remember when I was there, the security was extreme. They have high walls; they had security guards. You had to check in before entering the hotel.

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Even in the parking lot.

PHILLIPS: Even in the parking lot. Right. So you look at a situation like this, and I think what's interesting about the dynamic as well as that, with all the different classes of people living pretty much on top of each other there, in this area of India, it's very hard to detect anything unusual, with regard to -- it's not -- you can't see who's a terrorist and who's not a terrorist, because everybody is blended in, in such a tight circle there in that area.

CLANCY: Very dense population. That's the business center of the -- you know, the steel and glass clad buildings that surround there. High-rises, headquarters for many international firms are there, and you have that huge business community. People aren't really paying attention to what's going on.

But I got to tell you, I would think that, if Indian police are right and these attackers came ashore in boats, somebody should have noticed that. Now, we did note...

PHILLIPS: But do you think so, considering all the ports and the waterways, and that it would be very easy to mix in with the fishermen there? You know, you've been to that area. I mean, if they came storming in with guns, obviously, that would look bizarre. But they could have easily infiltrated on more of a low-key level. Right?

CLANCY: They certainly could have. You know, we're not going to know all the details of this for some time. You know, they will try to piece this back together. You know, they found a fishing boat now, they think, that was also used -- they found a man who had been killed aboard that fishing boat. CNN-IBN interviewed the police on the matter and so they found, as I said, one man dead aboard the boat. Sophisticated GPS equipment as well as satellite communications here. So they're looking at that. They're following that up right now.

You know, the prime minister, just hours ago, went on television, and he talked about outside forces. Now, in the past we have seen consistently Indian authorities pointing a finger (ph) at Pakistan in cases like this, and there's a lot of people doing that right now, but the Indian authorities have been careful not to do that.

PHILLIPS: All right. And I want to talk to you about that in a moment. Because Sara -- Sara, are you still with us?

SIDNER: Yes.

PHILLIPS: OK. You mentioned some of the eyewitnesses talking about these - these attackers being young men. Give us a little background politically. I mean, there is an underground movement, and we've talked a little bit about this. The -- the two groups inside, the Muslims versus the Hindu extremists and how much history there is there and that there is -- there has an underground movement to want to bring down India's government. You've got election season coming up next year. I know that everything is still happening now. You've got hostage situation.

But when you look at the political aspect of this, because all of us here as Americans are sitting back thinking, "Oh, my gosh, is this al Qaeda? Is this what we saw on 9/11?" But this could be something completely different politically, if you're looking at the foundation of why this is happening.

SIDNER: Absolutely, Kyra. You hit the nail on the head. There are actually state elections going on right now. And so places like Delhi and some of the -- some of the states are having elections and see the major election, the central government, will happen sometime in February/March, and so that is coming.

And I think that authorities really have to be careful to look at all the possibilities. Nobody should be jumping to conclusions. And I don't think they are, because certainly they're not making any statements about who they think is definitely responsible, or that they (UNINTELLIGIBLE) figure out where they've come from and what group they've come from.

So, you know, we should also mention, I mean, the fact that these -- these terrorists, asking for passports of foreigners, that has not been done. Foreigners have not really been targeted in such a way on Indian soil in recent years or recent times even. That's what authorities are saying that makes this quite a bit different. The coordination of so many attacks on these just -- that are normally quite free of problems, I guess is the best way to put it. But they are soft targets. Things like hotels, cafes.

And Mumbai is reeling right now. I mean, this city is normally teeming with people. You can't even walk a step without being in someone's midst and being very -- it is eerily silent in some of the streets, especially around this area. But even coming here, we drove right here in 20 or 30 minutes from the airport. Normally you know, it takes you forever. There's so much traffic. There's 19 to 20 million people that live in this city alone -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sara Sidner live from Mumbai, India. Sara, thanks so much. We'll be talking to you live throughout the next couple of hours.

So Jim, you know, this is your expertise as an anchor and correspondent with CNN International, and being to this part of the country a number of times. Do we go back to the Malegaon blast there in India? Do we talk about the number of retaliation attacks that have taken place? Should we talk about the Islamic terrorism, the Hindi terrorism, the infighting that's been going on and this younger generation of activists that want to change the government in India?

CLANCY: Well, you know, they talk about inside forces. We heard that from Manmohan Singh. Also, while I think everybody has to keep an open mind, certainly, of what has happened here, at the same time there's a disturbing element.

This case, that points towards Islamic terrorism, and that is the hostages being held in that housing block. Jewish families. Jewish/Israeli families, a rabbi and his wife. These were private residences. That reflects some research. That reflects some surveillance. That reflects, I'm afraid, Islamic terrorism.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's bring in Mike Brooks.

Mike, you worked for the FBI a number of years. You've been a member of SWAT teams. You know all about hostage situations. And maybe we should kind of step back for a moment. Some people might be wondering why is this taking so long? Why are there still hostages 26 hours later? And you and I well know, especially you, this was your profession for many years. Is that you have to be so careful when coming to a scene like this, because of booby traps, because of things that have been set up.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN ANALYST: Absolutely. PHILLIPS: So kind of take the viewer through the process of clearing a massive place like a hotel. I mean, you've got to look at -- you've got to bring in the architects. You've got to look at the plan.

BROOKS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: You've got to figure out every nook and cranny of that place.

BROOKS: You know, and I hope that the Indian commandos have, in fact, you know, pre-planned for something like this. I mean, here in the United States, local law enforcement, state enforcement and federal law enforcement, and especially the FBI, with their hostage rescue team that would be handling situations like this. They go and they preplan. They take a look at hotels. Take a look, make sure that they have plans somewhere readily accessible as well as do some dry runs. You know, when maybe they're going rehab a hotel, go in and practice this.

But it's very difficult, Kyra, just as you said. You always worry about booby traps, secondary devices. And when you have teams throughout the hotel, it's very difficult to clear. You have to come up with, you know, with a strategy. Did the Indians have a strategy for dealing with this? Those are the questions that I'm asking now. And you know, I've just heard recently, on the way from the airport to hear, I was on the phone with some of my FBI sources. The FBI is sending a team to Mumbai as we speak. It's a team out of the Los Angeles office. This is not a full team, like we would normally see.

PHILLIPS: What type of team? I mean, are we talking about investigative, forensic, SWAT?

BROOKS: It's going to be an investigative team, basically, an investigative team. And I think because they're saying investigative team, you know, of course, that could be hatched of the Indian government. You just can't come in there, OK?

PHILLIPS: Right. They have to be asked.

BROOKS: Exactly. Even though there are Americans involved, Americans were targeted, they will send in investigators, basic investigative team, but they also are sending a bomb tech to act as an adviser and also an adviser with the evidence response team. These are forensics folks. I was a member. I was one of the team leaders of the evidence response team. I used to respond to things like this. They'll come in. They'll go. They'll come in, they'll talk with the Indians, and kind of map out a game plan for after this is over with and what kind of evidence they can collect as the situation is ongoing.

PHILLIPS: Because that evidence will lead to certain types of explosives, which leads to certain countries, which leads to certain groups.

BROOKS: Right. PHILLIPS: So you're able to kind of put together where exactly these attacks were coordinated. Or at least claim a group.

BROOKS: Right. You know, and there's a lot of different explosions, you know, where you go back in history. And sometimes you can find a blasting cap or something like that that goes back to another bombing years ago.

PHILLIPS: Right.

BROOKS: And when they get there, we also heard from the bridge that they are also sending a team there, from the metropolitan police. Our folks, when they get there will team up with the metropolitan police. Their squad is SO-13. Worked with them a number of times on bombings overseas. They will also -- they will also compare notes. Because they also have one of the -- depending on what kind of explosives used, they have one of the best libraries on dealing with, you know, with sixtext (ph) explosions. What did you find in this part of the country, this part of the world?

So I mean, they'll compare notes. They're worked together on other crime scenes so that when they get there they'll be working with each other.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about the hostages, because there are living and breathing human beings right now...

BROOKS: Right.

PHILLIPS: ... that have been up for hours hoping that they get out of these hotels and this Jewish center alive. So I know tactics domestically, but overseas, are these guys going to try and negotiate with these terrorists? I mean, terrorists have one goal. That's to kill, that's to maim, that's to send a message.

BROOKS: Sure.

PHILLIPS: So, now we have seen some people that have been freed, but looking at how long we are into this right now, what are these guys, these negotiators trying to do? Are they really thinking they can talk with these terrorists and get these people out alive?

BROOKS: You know, here in the United States, we would be negotiating with them. I don't know what kind of negotiating skills the Indian government, the Indian police there have, that remains to be seen.

I can tell you on the American side of things there is an American financial corporation. They have Americans there in these hotels. One of my high-ranking FBI source I spoke to just a few minutes ago was telling me that the FBI has been advising some of these people who are Americans who are in these hotels basically on hostage survival.

It's ironic that the head of security of this particular financial corporation was former FBI. So he contacted the FBI -- you know, the FBI family, and they were able to contact these people in their hotel rooms where this is ongoing right now and advise them starting yesterday, advise them of basic hostage survivor skills, if you will. What to do, what not to do.

And so hopefully, the Indian government is able to negotiate with these people. They have some -- they may have intermediaries to go between to try to -- to try to get hostages released. We've seen some of the hostages that were released. Why were they released? Were they -- were they problems? The negotiators, did they present some kind of medical problems? These are all things that you have to take into consideration.

And so a lot of times when they do release hostages like that it will be because of these kind of things. Maybe a medical condition. Maybe they're just a difficult hostage, if you will, and they can't deal with them well. And instead of doing harm to them, they decided to led them go.

PHILLIPS: Because a terrorist, if you think about it, if you think about 9/11. They didn't think that they were going to die.

BROOKS: No.

PHILLIPS: They thought that they were going to go to heaven and have their -- what, 40 virgins.

BROOKS: Seventy-two.

PHILLIPS: Seventy-two. OK. Let's not get the numbers incorrect. So you look at a situation like this, and you know, can you really talk these guys out of what they are doing, when their purpose is to terrorize? It's not like they're not trying to get money. They're not trying to get something out of this?

BROOKS: Right. What's the difference if you -- definition of terrorism, the unlawful use of force or violence to intimidate or coerce or government civilian population or facsimile (ph) thereof, in a furtherance of political or social objectives.

So with that in mind, you look at these terrorists. One of the things I think is on the plus side. These were not -- and Jim has talked about this earlier. These were not terrorists who walked in with -- with vests on. These were not suicide terrorists. You know, they killed a number of people,

But I think with the negotiations ongoing now, I think that's a positive step. If the negotiations have been ongoing this long.

PHILLIPS: Just as we were talking, just coming across Associated Press right now out of Mumbai. It says state officials say that the siege has ended at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel and the last three attackers there have been killed. So that means this is -- this is very typical. They're going to go out until they die. They're going to either get what they want or they're going to go...

BROOKS: Well, we heard this yesterday, too. You know, we heard this...

CLANCY: Getting hostages with them. I mean, that's exactly...

PHILLIPS: That's true. What is the condition of the hostages?

CLANCY: If they go in and these last minutes and they try to bring this to a close, you were hearing it at the Taj Mahal Towers, and palace and towers, you know, OK. Good, it's over there. The Oberoi is still on. That housing block, where the Jewish families are being held, still going on. A long way to go.

BROOKS: And you know, Jim, we heard yesterday, too, that, you know, initially that things had calmed down at the Taj. And then we heard from our reporters there on the scene that, no, in fact, it was still ongoing. So, you know, hopefully this is an accurate report from the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

PHILLIPS: And hopefully, this is one step forward to this coming to an end.

BROOKS: Exactly.

PHILLIPS: We report that dozens of people were believed to -- still being held hostage or trapped at two hotels and a Jewish center. We're now get word through the Associated Press that the siege of the Taj Mahal Hotel is over. Three attackers three have been killed.

Our live coverage continues here at the CNN center in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's now 1:20 Eastern Time. Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips here live in the CNN center in Atlanta, Georgia, still covering the breaking news out of Mumbai, India. I can bring you up to date now.

Our sister network, CNN-IBN, reporting that the hostage situation at the Taj Hotel is now over. The final three attackers have been killed. Just a few moments ago we were talking about dozens of people still being believed as being held hostage or trapped in two hotels, the Oberoi Hotel and also the Taj Hotel in addition to a Jewish center.

Now our sister network, CNN-IBN, reporting the Taj Hotel hostage situation is over. The final three attackers -- attackers, rather, being killed.

Mike Brooks, interesting point, you and Jim Clancy both bringing up the fact that, OK, the hostages. Did the hostages make it?

CLANCY: Right.

PHILLIPS: The attackers have been killed. The siege there is over with, but what's the condition of those that were being held hostage? That's what we want to know next. CLANCY: Exactly. And what they're going to have to do now is, they believe it's over with, is go ahead and make sure the hotel is cleared. Find out the people who are in their rooms. You know, because it was very difficult. If you're in your room and someone comes and knocks on your door, it's difficult to determine whether it's the good guys or the bad guys.

So now, you know, and your point, Jim, very well taken. You know, what are the condition of the hostages? Did they get out? And I'm sure we'll be hearing something soon. Or hopefully.

PHILLIPS: And Jim, you...

CLANCY: We're finding out -- we're finding out that they've been hiding in the rooms.

BROOKS: Right.

CLANCY: Some have finally got out after six, eight, ten hours of hiding. There may still be people in there.

PHILLIPS: And we have talked to people about, you know, that it's hard to figure out who is who there in India, because no matter what your class...

CLANCY: Don't answer the door.

PHILLIPS: Yes. They -- I mean, but I'm just saying, it's so easy to blend in there. It's not -- but something else that you brought up as well. The anti-terrorist squad. What can you tell us about the anti-terror squad, the fact that the head of that squad was taken out when all this happened?

CLANCY: He ran into the hotel -- I think it was the Oberoi -- to confront the armed terrorists that were in there, and he was shot down. And a real blow. They've lost three other top police or military commanders. I mean, these aren't necessarily generals but, you know, really top men in their units, as well as a number, another eight or nine policemen killed. One was just already buried just today. This is a shock for their security forces. Because yes, they deal with terrorism but they don't usually get in gun fights with the terrorists.

PHILLIPS: We'll talk more about that in a second. Mike, I know you're working your sources. Let's go ahead and listen in to our sister network, CNN-IBN, their ongoing coverage right now out of Mumbai.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... is telling us, if I could quickly recap. Walked up (ph), (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that's coming in. He says, the assessments of the LSG (ph) who are currently inside these three locations. There is one terrorist still holed up at the Taj Hotel. He also qualified that statement by saying he could have taken a hit. He could be injured.

The assessment coming in from Oberoi is two -- two terrorists still holed up inside the hotel, but he believes the deal -- Vijaj Elesde (ph) telling us that they have been restricted to a particular area, which essentially means that our commanders have been able to locate these people and have -- and are in fact in a position to ambush them.

Information coming in from the Merriman (ph) House location where the power supply for the last hour or so has been cut off. Two to three terrorists, he says, still holed up inside. But the good bit of news that is coming in from Merriman (ph) House right now that most of those people inside, the hostages, have in fact been taken out.

We put the question about the hostages inside the two -- inside the two luxury hotels, Vijay Elesde (ph) telling us that most of the hostages they came across have been secured, but there are people who still are staying put inside their hotel rooms locking in, afraid to come out. They could still be inside, but many of hostages, or most of them, could be all of them, have been secured by the D.G., RSG (ph).

Our reporters through the last 24 hours or so, 25 hours or so, have been keeping an active story. They're piecing together what's really been happening in one of the worst terror strikes, possibly the worst since 9/11 as many are calling it over the last two days.

PHILLIPS: And if you're just tuning in, you've been watching the live coverage from our sister network, CNN-IBN there in Mumbai, India. The only -- OK. The only network, we are lucky to be connected with, to bring you ongoing live coverage on this Thanksgiving day, in the United States.

This is what we can tell you right now, bring you up to date, that Mumbai police, Mumbai police are saying 125 people dead from gunshots, explosions or fires. We've been talking about where the hostages had been held. Two various hotels. The Oberoi Hotel, also the Taj Hotel.

Now we are able to report through our sister network there that that siege at the Taj Hotel is over with. The three attackers, the final three attackers there, have been killed. We're trying to find out more about those hostages, if they have been freed or not. We're now going into our 27th hour since this all began.

Jim Clancy, it happened just yesterday afternoon. We were slowly getting numbers that possibly two people were killed, three people were killed. The next thing you know we were hearing about these simultaneous attacks.

And you and I were talking about this anti-terror squad, and how much they have dealt with in the past with previous attacks. Does it surprise you that the head of that squad was one of the first guys to be taken out, in addition to other leaders within this country that train on a regular basis to prevent something like this? What does that tell us about the attackers?

CLANCY: It is a little -- it is a little bit shocking. It shows leadership on his part, perhaps, that he was there out in front of his men. On the other hand, what intelligence, counterterrorism intelligence is really all about, is knowing about this stuff in advance. If they had brought their security levels at these hotels, Mike Brooks, that's just an indication they didn't know. They didn't see this one coming.

BROOKS: It is. And you know, I'm hearing from my intelligence sources that apparently the 23, or 28 states that they have there, they each operate their own -- their own intelligence network independently, and there's not a lot of communication from state to state.

It would be like, you know, the metropolitan police department in D.C. not talking to the authorities from Maryland and Virginia, or that they border. Or here in Georgia, not talking to Alabama. It's just it could have been a breakdown in intelligence, and -- because...

PHILLIPS: This would be devastating, the intelligence network.

BROOKS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Jim, you and I were talking, when we there not too long ago, the gates that were up, the brick walls that were up, you couldn't even get up to the Oberoi Hotel without showing I.D. It was very strict. And you're saying just ten days ago this was all brought down?

CLANCY: Well, I don't know to what extent it was brought down, but they said it is very relaxed. They said you could walk up to the hotel. You could drive right up to the hotel.

BROOKS: You know, in most security, Kyra -- and Jim, most security here in the United States, it's all intelligence driven. So if we hear that there's something, you know, we'll raise the threat level.

CLANCY: Exactly.

BROOKS: Do they have any kind of threat level there? I doubt it. And you know, for what you're saying, it sounds like they -- they went from an orange back down to almost absolutely nothing. Because, again, if they thought that there was going to be an attack like that, you would have seen security in place, because again, it's all intelligence driven.

CLANCY: And remember, an economy can be a target. In this case is very well may be. The World Trade Center towers, obviously, an economic target in part. This is the equivalent of that.

BROOKS: Their iconic target there in Mumbai.

CLANCY: And the business center. The business heart.

PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to talk more about the elections coming up, the fact that there's this in-fighting that's been going on. Certain groups that want to take down the Indian government. We'll get into that in just a second, guys. But I'm being told we do have an eyewitness from the attack on the Taj Hotel on the phone with us. She would like to be -- like to remain anonymous.

So go ahead and tell us. You were having dinner, I understand, at the Taj Hotel with your husband when the terrorists entered the hotel. Can you just give me a play-by-play about what you saw, what you heard?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were at the Taj at the Sea Lounge (ph), and we were there. We had just completed having a small meal at around 9:30 at night, and my husband had just got up to go to the bathroom when the first really big noise, and I didn't really know that it was a blast and I was just watching what the noise was all about.

And the next five minutes, my husband was back, and the minute he entered, we thought he would go out, but it wasn't to happen, because we -- there was -- we could make out there were shots. There were continuous shots. We didn't see anything, but we heard. We heard continuous firing and, most immediately (ph), in the lobby, because it was so close. But as time goes on it just came closer and closer, and I thought from the sound that it was right there outside the restaurant staircase. There was a staircase, and I thought it was happening right there, under the door (PH) (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

PHILLIPS: So did -- how -- how -- how did the response go down? Did anyone from the hotel come to you and tell you that you needed to clear the area, or take...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no. See, it was like this, because basically, I mean, the restaurant has glass doors.

PHILLIPS: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So there was no way -- I mean, it was very obvious to us that, you know, we couldn't haven't stood -- you know, we sitting at the table, right, facing the door. We were just a little behind.

PHILLIPS: So where did you go for safety? What did you do when you realized something was...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just went back to the interior of the restaurant and I think I just removed a piece of furniture and just ran into the room beyond that, and we found a little small room beyond. And that's where we just went into hiding.

PHILLIPS: And where are you right now? Do you feel comfortable staying where you are right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at home.

PHILLIPS: Okay. So you -- when did you leave?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I left -- we left, my husband was with me so both of us were there. (inaudible) And there was -- there were some foreigners also with us. And I think we were around 25, 30 of us in the room for about at least six hours.

PHILLIPS: So six hours, you were there -- you were holed up in there about six hours before.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Yes.

PHILLIPS: We just got word that the siege there at the Taj Hotel ended just a few minutes ago with the final three attackers being killed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

PHILLIPS: So how were you able to get out of the hotel when this was still going on?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We could -- basically we managed to remain in that room which was covered an all three sides. There were three outlets it. All three gates were locked and we had put furniture against all three. Like that. Just put things again every door, and we just remained there.

And after that, we heard that, you know, there was fire at the dome. We knew that we were not very far away from that, and the firing was going on. There was no way that it was stopping. We knew that we couldn't get out through the normal exits.

And we also saw a little bit of the fire coming our way, such as ashes and things. We knew that if we stayed there for long we would be trapped. So some people inside the room decided to break the windows, and pulled down the curtains so that the fire would not come into that site. And we then, and luckily enough, then we finished doing that. (inaudible) We climbed down from the ladder and the firemen saved us.

PHILLIPS: The firemen actually saved you. Wow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got out. It was just like really -- everything just happened. People -- friends of mine, we were so grateful, and they cooperated so much in letting all of us get out. There was nobody like shouting and screaming in our room at least. And they were giving us, the men, the first chance to go out peacefully and asked very, very -- the people there were really nice.

PHILLIPS: I appreciate you sharing your story. You were extremely lucky.

Mike Brooks, as you listen to her, it sounds like they had the instinct to do the right thing and the rescue workers, for her they were rescued by the firefighters.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Right and the firefighters -- it's very difficult in a situation like this. When you have live gunfire, it's very, very difficult to perform rescues while you're being fired at. That's one of the other things you have to try to find out where the terrorists are, where they're holding the hostages, where are the shots coming from?

Because I can tell you, here in the United States, if something like that happen, the fire department will not go in until it's cleared by law enforcement and now many have law enforcement SWAT teams here in the United States have basic firefighter training.

We did in Washington D.C. when we had the Emergency Response Team. The FBI hostage rescue team, same kind of training.

PHILLIPS: You have something coming across the wires, Jim Clancy?

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're looking at -- we have a couple of developments. CNN, our reporters on the ground are telling us that the fire appears to be extinguished at the Oberoi Hotel. We've heard reports that the security teams are going through their cleansing that hotel. Also the Associated Press reporting just a moment ago that eight people have been freed at that Jewish center that was also down in that southern district of Mumbai. That is certainly good news. Some progress.

PHILLIPS: Are there more?

CLANCY: That's the question. I'm waiting to see the follow-up on this. Right now, an Indian state official saying eight hostages freed at Mumbai Jewish center.

BROOKS: Have we heard any demands from these hostage-takers at all?

CLANCY: No, no.

BROOKS: I never heard anything about any demands, at either of the locations where the hostages were being held.

PHILLIPS: There's got to be a fatigue factor, too? Do we know how many attackers there were? Was it a large amount? If it wasn't a large amount, then you're looking at, what, 27 hours we're going into now.

CLANCY: Sure.

PHILLIPS: A number of them that have been killed. They're battling it out with the commandos for a while. So there could be a fatigue factor here where they're just -- they're winning out on these bad guys.

BROOKS: It could be. They could be running out of ammunition. They could be running out of provisions. Because you can only go so long without hydration, without food, especially in a situation such as this.

CLANCY: But Mike, you got have a motive, right?

BROOKS: Absolutely. CLANCY: To take hostages -- either you're going to try to swap them for your friends that are in jail; you're going to try to trade them for your freedom.

BROOKS: Right, exactly.

CLANCY: To get out of this. Or maybe you just want to prolong --

PHILLIPS: Send a message.

CLANCY: -- and dramatize it to the fullest extent this can to really get the most publicity out of it.

BROOKS: The motive we see in most terrorism, political or social objectives by the definition of terrorist.

PHILLIPS: Jim Clancy stay with me. Mike Brooks, stay with me.

You heard it here first. It came through Mike and his sources; the FBI sending a team to Mumbai to help investigate this murderous rampage now in its second day.

Here's what I can tell you that we know so far. The Associated Press is also reporting that the siege and the standoff at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel is over. The AP says that the last three attackers there have been killed.

Overall, police say 125 people are now dead from gunshots, explosions or fires in some of the city's best-known landmarks that we've been talking about throughout the night and through morning. Dozens of people believed to be still held hostage or trapped right now at another hotel and at a Jewish center. But as you heard Jim just report coming through the Associated Press, apparently eight hostages have been freed from that Jewish center. We've seen a number of other hostages freed as well from the Taj.

Explosions and gunfire have been heard throughout the day at all three of those sites. Authorities estimate now that more than two dozen attackers carried out this highly-coordinated assault. Eight or nine have been killed. Also dead is the chief of the anti-terrorist squad of Mumbai police.

You know what, that answers our question there, Mike. If we're looking at possibly two dozen attackers, right, carrying out this coordinated assault; you got eight or nine that have been killed. Well, the fight's dying out if that's all that remain. But there could be other guys coming into the fight, right?

BROOKS: There could be, absolutely.

CLANCY: These numbers are pretty fluid right now. I think, we're going to have to wait and do a count. It's going to take quite a while to really understand how coordinated they were and how many there were, what their goal was.

PHILLIPS: You know what, guys --

BROOKS: Especially with the number of locations that we're talking about.

PHILLIPS: Sara Sidner joining us now from Mumbai.

Sara, you're saying that the AP is not getting it right. That the siege is not over at the Taj?

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's very hard to tell. But I can tell you, just ten minutes ago while they reported that, we heard a gunshot. We were talking to some of the guests inside the hotel they said, "Oh, my God. We hear a gunshot." We got off the phone with them and we could also hear it here.

So what does that mean? Normally when sieges are over you would expect there to be no gunfire if it's done. And so at this point you know, we still don't know the real answer to this; what's happening inside the hotel. What we do know, though, is if in fact they have basically found the terrorists and either removed them or killed them, if in fact that's the case, there are still people who are inside that hotel who have not been let out, who have not come out and who do not feel safe enough to come out of the hotel. And then of course you get this what sounded like gunfire, and nobody is unless --

PHILLIPS: Sara --

SIDNER: Unless they are absolutely 100 percent sure.

PHILLIPS: And Sara, while you're there, I don't mean to cut you off, but I'm being told that our sister network CNN/IBN is reporting now that there's one attacker behind you there still inside that hotel and police are battling it out with him right now. Have you heard anything since we've been talking?

SIDNER: That's what I was trying to say is that basically everyone's saying the siege is over. This is the third time I've heard that today and the last time was three hours ago.

And certainly it was not over, because we heard many blasts going on over the past three hours. It's been pretty quiet for the last couple of hours, and now we've heard another gunshot. Something is going on in there.

I certainly would not say over had you're starting to hear gunshots ring out from inside the hotel and the guests also, the people inside are also telling us they hear it, too.

PHILLIPS: Sara, you're in a safe location, right? I mean, I realize how close you are to the hotel, but you're not in any precarious position right now, are you?

SIDNER: You know what, frankly, throughout the day we've been pretty cautious. You never know what the range of these guns are. We are pretty close to this hotel as are the other journalists. There's only one or two ways to get this shot because of the way that this has all been cordoned off.

It's sort of standing here and trying to be cognizant of what's going on. But obviously, my back's to the hotel. Whenever we hear any kind of shot or a blast, we duck and we try to get out of the way as soon as possible, Kyra.

BROOKS: Sarah this is Mike Brooks. I saw you yesterday when you were trying to get out of the way after what sounded like a hand grenade went off. Have the Indian commandos -- have they been able to isolate the terrorists to one part of the hotel and clear the rest of the hotel? Are you hearing reports such as that?

SIDNER: We heard that they were going sort of a floor by floor and then once they get to a top or get to a certain area, then you've got a massive gun battle going on. That is just what we're hearing. It has not been confirmed, but as similar situations in both hotels apparently. That's what we heard.

As to whether that is actually the case right now, as to whether that is completely accurate, I can't say. But we know that they went in and they stormed the area and they did, were able to get some people out earlier in the day.

Since then we've seen some interesting movement. For example, they let the media come quite close. We very close to the Taj Hotel. And then something happened and we all got pushed back. And then we were allowed to get close again and then we got pushed back. So it's a very strange scene where you've got this thing moving back and forth yet still don't know anything about what's going on inside, except that you hear blasts; sometimes muffled, sometimes quite loud, sometimes gunshots.

BROOKS: We saw the fire raging out of control yesterday, a good part of it yesterday and last night. Has the fire been brought under control or has it flared back up again?

SIDNER: That's interesting because the fire had gone away for a while. Then there was another fire in another part, on the other side of the hotel coming out of the fourth floor, out of a window. It burst through a window. You could see hot embers falling from that window. That was then damped down a bit, because firefighters were sort spraying some water on that.

Now on the other side of the hotel, where the original fire started, which was near one of the domes, back from that there were quite a few flames that I was able to see from this vantage point and on the other side of hotel. So that looks at this point to be smoldering right now. There aren't flames that are sort of licking out like they were a few moments ago, but it's smoldering and I can still see a bit of smoke coming up from that side of the hotel.

PHILLIPS: All right, Sara and I'm getting word we just heard from an Indian security official talking on our sister network, CNN/IBN. Let's go ahead and listen.

J.K. DUTT, DIRECTOR GENERAL, NSG: The three locations, our men are all in position at Taj. I believe that there is one more terrorist who is holed up over there, although he may be not in good condition. We are trying to engage him either to get him out so that we could take him alive, or if worst comes to worst, then if there is too much disturb, we have to see what can be done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Dutt could you --

DUTT: At the Oberoi also, there are two persons and we have been engaging them. We have restricted them to one part or one place and I think we should be able to mop up the operations very shortly. At Nariman house, there are believed to be two or three of them and we have eliminated the entire area. We have also had a few places evacuated from there so that in case there is operation, mistakes (inaudible) nobody in the vicinity or innocent person doesn't get hurt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right sir, as we speak to you we were seeing pictures of your crack commandos really securing the people who were taken hostage. We saw an elderly couple, a foreign natural, a teenage boy being taken out as well.

Sir, could you give us a sense of at the Nariman house where power supply has been cut off as part of the strategy? If they're going to see that final assault happen tonight is there a sense that this could be over soon?

DUTT: Well, you see our tactics and strategies do keep changing to cope with the situation, and I don't think it would be correct for me to say anything more. Because, otherwise, these things spread very fast and get into the hands of persons from whom we would rather not, you know, you wouldn't like to have them have this information.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We do appreciate, sir that these details could compromise your operation that you're undertaking with your commandos out there for the last 25 hours. Just a quick question though, sir, on the assessment that they're getting on, have you been able to secure all hostages from both the Taj as well as the Oberoi? That is the information we were getting in thought there were conflicting reports. Have all the hostages been secured by commandos now?

DUTT: You see, as far as hostages are concerned, we have been able to come across all those we have been able to rescue and take them. But there are some of them who are inside the rooms, and they are not prepared to open their doors, probably they are fearing that it might not be the NSG, it might from there.

But we are trying to persuade and we have been able to set free in quite a few places, and as far as possible we are evacuating all such persons from there. As far as the terrorists are concerned, we know where exactly they are and we are engaging in that spot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, is the fire proving to be a problem at the two hotels while the operation is underway?

DUTT: When the fire takes places, nobody stays in that area. So that is a problem which is being dealt with adequately by the fire brigade. We have no problem with that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, a final question. Have you got an assessment of any of your men who have taken a hit as they undertake that operation?

DUTT: Sorry? Please come again?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any of your men in the operations at the three locations, have any of them taken a hit, any of them who have been injured?

DUTT: We have one person who has been hit in the head, and there are two other persons; one has been shot in the leg and another in the arm.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For all of us in Mumbai we're really thankful to you, sir, and your commandos for bravely carrying out that operation. Is there any message you want to give out to them, to tell them how much longer the ordeal really, this agony will go on?

DUTT: The morale of my men is very high, and we are confident that we will achieve our objectives, in the shortest possible time. We are at it. We will come out on top of the situation.

PHILLIPS: You were just listening to our sister network, CNN/IBN; that was an Indian security official updating us on the situation there at the Taj Hotel. We have reported earlier that the siege there was over. That's what the AP was reporting; that is incorrect.

Our Sara Sidner is there on the scene. Apparently there is still one attacker is still battling things out with law enforcement there at the Taj Hotel; not sure the number of hostages still being held at that hotel. Also the other hotel we told you about that has been attacked, the Oberoi Hotel, still two gunmen there. Security officials battling it out with them; cannot confirm the number of hostages.

Also, AP reporting at the Jewish center, that eight hostages have been freed from there. We will continue to update you on this as we get it.

Meanwhile, our Zain Verjee, State Department correspondent covering the political side of things for us there out of New York. Zain, why don't we go ahead and start with the latest from the state department and information that you're getting with regard to the conflict politically that's taking place right now in this country.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's still a fluid situation clearly on the ground, Kyra and many question marks for the U.S. and the state department as they try and figure out whether or not the Americans in Mumbai are okay. What we learned was that at least three U.S. citizens have been injured. It's not clear. I just got off the phone with an official who said that it's unclear how serious their condition is at this point; whether the injuries are really serious or minor. We'll try and get that information to you. What I was told that all the hospitals have been alerted to get in touch with U.S. officials if any American comes in or is seen. And meanwhile, officials from the consulate are combing up all the areas that they can to try to figure that out.

The consulate is also staying open this Thanksgiving Day in Mumbai for anyone who needs emergency travel that doesn't have a passport. So they're really trying to help wherever they can, but it's a difficult situation, and U.S. officials on the ground there are really trying to work their contacts with Indian officials who are trying to get as much information as they can in this unfolding situation.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about the tensions for a second, Zain, between India and Pakistan. I'm going through the various wire reports that are coming out, and one of the wires is actually quoting the Indian prime minister saying that he believes the militants had come from outside the country even insisting that they are from, as he puts it, archrival Pakistan.

Obviously, we haven't confirmed any of this at this point. There's a lot of people making accusations and pointing fingers at this point but there, no doubt, have been tensions between these two countries. You and I well know the terrorist activity that happens within Pakistan and the training and what we've seen even with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

VERJEE: This is a really dangerous situation that has the potential of becoming an all-out full-fledge crisis between India and Pakistan. Words like that clearly point to the fact that India suspects, although hasn't come out and explicitly said it and condemned Pakistan, but there are Islamic militant elements that point the finger and connecting the dots to Pakistan.

It's an unfortunate situation, too, Kyra, because right now India/Pakistan relationships had significantly improved. Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan, making never before seen overture towards Pakistan saying let's solve this. Pakistan would never initiate a first nuclear strike on India. They're talking about opening trade and counterterrorism cooperation. So this is a bad sign, and if it does escalate could even drag the U.S. into it.

The Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, issued this statement, saying, "Terrorism is a threat to both India and Pakistan. Pakistan is vehemently condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. It's unfair to blame Pakistan or Pakistanis for these acts of terrorism, even before an investigation is undertaken."

We've had many experts who say that kind of an attack of this nature may not have been able to have been carried out without some kind of connection to militant groups that originate or have some link to Pakistan. It is a difficult situation, and if this crisis does escalate, it may well land with a big thud on President Obama's desk when he takes office.

PHILLIPS: Now, you have been to Mumbai. What strikes you as you watch this coverage?

VERJEE: Well, Mumbai is a really big modern city, and there is something like 19 or 20 million people in the city and its outskirts. It is the center of where all of those Bollywood movies originate from and there is a real buzz in a city like Mumbai. You can almost draw a parallel in many ways to New York.

You know, one of the analysts that was discussing this situation sort of put it in an interesting way for our audience here, Kyra, and saying that it is like imagine whether if terrorists took over the Ritz or the Plaza and took over Penn station and Times Square, equated it to a scenario like that and that is certainly something terrible and difficult that the people of Mumbai are clearly going through, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right Zain Verjee there from New York, our state department correspondent. Let me know what your sources continue tell you and keep us updated as you get information, Zain, all right?

VERJEE: I will, thanks Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, I appreciate it.

I can tell you it's past 12:30 a.m. in Mumbai right now. Developments are changing by the second in this terror rampage that some are calling India's 9/11 right now. We are going to update you with all the latest numbers, as the attackers still on the scene.

One, we are being told that the Taj Hotel, that siege is not over. And two gunmen at the Oberoi Hotel; but we are also getting word through the Associated Press that eight hostages possibly may have been freed from the Jewish center. We are keeping an eye on all of this.

Our breaking news coverage continues right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Thank you for continuing to watch our coverage here on CNN joined by CNN/IBN, our sister network out of Mumbai, India. This is coverage you won't see on any other network and thanks to our sister network that's bringing us developments out of Mumbai. This is what I can tell you so far.

The three main areas under attack and under siege there in Mumbai, the Oberoi Hotel, and also that Jewish center. Still an attacker left at the Taj battling it out with the police right now and two gunmen left at the Oberoi. Police going at it with the attackers there, but the good news is we are getting news from the Associated Press that eight hostages have been freed from the Jewish center.

I am getting some updated information now looks like from our wire service here at CNN. It is just what I said about one gunman remains holed up there at the Taj. Looking to see if there is any new information as I kind of go through this information. I am going to go ahead to Andrew Stevens who is now able to bring us live coverage from the Jewish center.

Andrew, I was seeing across the Associated Press that possibly eight hostages have been freed from that Jewish center. Can you bring us up to date since you are there?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Like all stories in this fluid situation here in Mumbai, it is a little bit difficult to nail down the facts. We have just arrived here and literally came in and walked up to middle-aged Indians that are being escorted out from the house by police. I managed to drop a quick question to them to find out where (inaudible) appeared but they were actually in a house adjacent to Chabad House where the Jewish center is.

This house is actually in direct line of fire because they have gunmen in the house who've been firing indiscriminately and has trapped the people in the house in front of the Jewish community and they have managed to get them out. Three of course came out this morning and another three came out just then, so that maybe the numbers we're talking about; six people out of the house in front of Chabad House, the Jewish center.

Now, what I can tell you is that the police think, the state officials indeed think and they're saying there are about four people in Chabad house, and the rabbi and his wife and two Israeli guests. The rabbi has a young child, and the child got out of the house with one of the domestic servants this morning took him out of the house and another house servant as well. So that is the situation at the moment.

There are still gunmen inside Chabad house; there are still hostages there. We understand there are four people inside the house at this point, the rabbi and his wife and two other guests, but his young child has gotten out of the house. He was taken out -- we think he's about two years old -- by one of the domestic staff.

That is really the situation here at the moment. They have a lot of police here. There is a lot of cordon; it's very difficult and this is a narrow line out of Mumbai. It is probably about 10 or 15 minutes south from the hotel, but it is in a little intricate work of the alleyways and lanes many of which have been blocked off by police.

So it is actually very difficult to get remotely close to the house, itself, but I caught a glimpse of it. It is a four- or five- story house at the end of the lane. Police quickly hustled us along.

PHILLIPS: Andrew, we've been are reporting this is a Jewish center, so are you saying that the rabbi and his family live in the center? This is also their home in addition to a large Jewish center?

STEVENS: Yeah, it is a Jewish center, they live in the home, and there is a synagogue here and visiting Jewish scholars and others come and stay, as I understand it. So it is not a big community there but they get visitors coming through.

PHILLIPS: Andrew, why a Jewish center? We realize the attacks on the hotels; they've been talking about the American and the British connection there and also trying to send a signal to Indian business owners. But why a Jewish center?

STEVENS: Well, this is a key question. Why would you target a Jewish center down here? And that goes back really to the identity of the attackers and until the identity is clearly established, maybe religious reaction as a spokesman from the Israeli Ministry said that Jewish people are targets and Israelis are targets in many places all over the world.

That is how they see it, and until really we understand who is behind these attacks across Mumbai, we can't answer really that question.

PHILLIPS: Andrew Stevens, appreciate it. We'll be talking to you for the next number of hours.

And just to bring everybody up to date right now. Thank you for joining us on our breaking news coverage. It's just after 12:30 a.m. in Mumbai. Developments are changing by the second as you can imagine in this terror rampage that many are calling India's 9/11 right now.