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Rising Death Toll in Mumbai; Five Hostages Found Dead at Chabad House in Mumbai; Two Americans, Father and Daughter Who Stayed at Oberoi Hotel Confirmed Dead
Aired November 28, 2008 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It still remains a volatile situation in Mumbai. Commando operations go on at a luxury hotel. Also at a Jewish center the scene of a tragic discovery. And then this just in, news of Americans in Mumbai killed. It is Friday, November 28th, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Heidi Collins. And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The terrorist siege in Mumbai. Here is what we know right now on this morning of swift developments. Commandos storm Mumbai's Jewish center and make a very grim discovery. Last hour the Israeli government reported the bodies of five hostages were found inside. Minutes ago, the U.S. State Department announced that two Americans are among the confirmed dead in at least one of the sieges there in Mumbai. Their families have been contacted, but they have not been publicly identified, nor the circumstances of their death. The latest confirmed death toll now stands at 146, the total number of those wounded 327.
So no word on hostages possibly being held at the Taj Mahal Hotel. You're looking at images of it. It is the last site still held by terrorists. A short time ago gunfire and explosions were heard. And we're going to begin our coverage there, live coverage there at the Taj Mahal Hotel. For the past two days, CNN's Sara Sidner has been there. It was Sara that you saw at the top of the show ducking for cover because explosions continue, gunfire continues. What's the situation now, Sara?
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're at it again. We're hearing more gunfire coming out of the Taj, what appears to be or sounds like gunfire. So I'm going to back out of the shot here and let my photographer give you some closer views of the Taj right now. The time here, we are 10 1/2 hours ahead of Eastern Standard time, so it is Friday here at about 8:30 p.m. it is dark now. Authorities had talked about it becoming dark and concerns about it becoming dark because, as you might imagine, all of the people, if there was anyone left inside that is possibly a guest of the hotel, locked in their room or possibly a hostage, all of the lights inside have been turned off because that is what everyone was instructed to do. And now it is dark again.
And so commandos are having to go through this hotel and what we can only suspect is darkness, trying to feel their way through. But we are hearing gunshots. We are hearing explosions yet again, another round of what has been going on for the past 48 hours now since the first siege on this hotel began on Wednesday night here in Mumbai. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And again, Sara, it is unclear whether the gunfire, explosions are coming from the terrorists or whether there's an exchange between the terrorists and the commandos or law enforcement there. And why do we believe that there may be only one terrorist in there?
SIDNER: You know, that is what the police keep saying, is that they still believe it is just one. There were five that they first said were inside. And then they said, OK, now there is one. What happened to those other four, we don't know. We don't know if they in fact have been captured, killed or what. But now they're saying one -- the police - the commissioner also said it was one possible terrorist with hand grenades and an AK-47. That is what he said on air. So that's all we can go on at this point. It does seem like an awful lot of ammunition, but maybe this terrorist is able to fire back, and that's why you're hearing all of this.
WHITFIELD: All right. Sara Sidner, thanks so much. One of the many locations targeted by terrorists there in Mumbai in the past 48 hours, and still an active scene there outside the Taj Mahal Hotel.
So, now we're hearing we're hearing that two Americans are among the dead in Mumbai, some 147 people in all have been killed in Mumbai, but now we understand that among them, two Americans. CNN state correspondent Zain Verjee is in Washington. What's the latest information you're getting from the State Department?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: that is what we have essentially, Fredricka, that two Americans have been killed in these attacks in Mumbai. But families have been notified. We're told too that the families are in touch with consular officials and the issue right now for them is to figure out how they would like to handle this difficult and painful situation, what they want to do with the bodies and how they may want to return the remains to the United States. The State Department will be giving us more information shortly, and we will bring that to you. We don't know the details though about the circumstances or exactly how this happened. What we do know, also, is that at least three U.S. citizens have been injured in these attacks as well. We don't know how serious these injuries are.
The priority for the State Department right now is to account for all U.S. citizens in Mumbai. This is a very fluid and a very difficult and dangerous situation. And the state department is just trying to be careful, precise and meticulous about this, and it takes a little time. But, you know - and also to be mindful, too, that the families that are enduring a major tragedy.
WHITFIELD: Yes and how do they go about trying to identify all the Americans who may be in Mumbai? I mean by direct contact with the Indian Airport authorities you know to find out who has registered, where they are staying when they entered the country. Because certainly, American authorities trying to contact hotels directly is not going to happen right now in Mumbai. VERJEE: No. I mean there are many different levels to this. The U.S. has said that they've been able to account for all of its consulate staff, both Americans as well as Indian employees. They would have had some kind of way to track tourists coming in or passport records. They may have a list of American citizens living in Mumbai for whatever reason. They're also in touch with Indian authorities at hospitals. Consulate officials have been combing the hospitals and telling officials there, if you see, hear or if you have any kind of contact with Americans, let us know.
The State Department has also put out a phone number for any - anyone here that is panicked or worried about family or friends there. And when you call that number, they asked that you leave some kind of record of a name or any kind of details so they can compile a list and to go through each and every individual meticulously in a situation that is so utterly chaotic and so difficult and communications are difficult. Security officials that they would normally be in touch with are focusing on other things. Some key police officials have been killed. So it's a very arduous task. But I think front and center of this is the sensitivity, the emotion and the precision in a situation like this, that they need to just get right.
WHITFIELD: Zain Verjee from Washington, covering the State Department. Thanks so much. A lot of people traveling abroad wondering why do you have to put your passport and your hotel information when you fill out those customs or entry papers. This is in part why so that the State Department is able to find out where you are when you go abroad.
All right. Well at least three Americans, as Zain was saying, have been confirmed to be among the wounded in Mumbai's terror attacks. We're hearing from the husband of one of them. He spoke to CNN's Nashville affiliate, WSMV.
(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)
VOICE OF SANTOS LOPEZ, WIFE WOUNDED IN MUMBAI: I could feel the tension in her voice. She said we were ambushed and we were shot. I said are you OK. She said I'm shot in the arm and the leg. You tend to think that things will happen in the world happen to other people until they happen to you.
(END AUDIOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Lopez is rushing to Mumbai now to visit his wife. She will be hospitalized for a few more days apparently.
All right. It's been 47 hours now since the terrorists first launched their attacks in Mumbai. And just in the last hour, more devastating information coming out of one of those targeted locations, the Jewish center where five bodies have been located. Senior international correspondent Nic Roberston is there joining us by video phone. Nic, what's new now?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, in the last half hour there have been several loud explosions, about half a dozen loud explosions coming from the Chabad House, the Jewish center here. We do know now from officials that the rabbis - who were held hostage by the attackers - that the operations, they're far from being over as the crowd, onlookers there (inaudible) -- drawing to conclusions (inaudible) from the explosions we've been hearing that the commandos who we've seen on the roof of the Chabad House Jewish Center are still there and are pursuing an operation against, we don't know how many attackers, terrorists inside the building. But from where I'm standing, I can see the lights are on the top floor of the Jewish Center. It's a five-story building. The lights are on at the top of the billing. But as you look further down the building, the lights are all off. So it is unclear exactly what is unfolding in and around the building at the moment. But it seems the operations here still going on, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Nic, we're looking at images you are likely not able to see. But it shows the crowds of people outside this Chabad House. And you know you talk about the still tenuous situation. It's unclear what can happen in that house. About how many people seem to be out there? And why - is it just on lookers who are just you know wanting to witness some resolution here? Or aren't people concerned about their own safety?
ROBERTSON: There have been onlookers coming here to see what's happening, to get a sense of the news that's happening in their city. But the vast majority of people that have been out on the street and on the roofs of the building are the local residents of this area who quite literally come out to look, to see what's happening in their neighborhood. Of course, this is an absolutely huge and devastating disturbance for them. On Indian television we've seen it likened to, this is our 9/11. From where I'm standing, they will have watched a couple nights ago the historic Taj Mahal Hotel and its historic facade burning. What is happening to them and the - and to the community around them is an unthought of, unheard of before, a lot of people have crowded out to see that but the police have been very officious if you will in the past hour or so, really driving people off the streets, getting into arguments with them, telling them to clear the roads. We've seen police in sort of civilian-type police uniform now replaced by police in camouflage uniforms as they try to take control of the streets. So far fewer people out. They've been told to get inside their houses. And we're able to hear those explosions and they know it's not over yet. Fredricka.
ROBERTSON: Yes, and I imagine that authorities are a little concerned when crowds gather, too, because we've seen in so many parts of the world, that even among the onlookers there can still be someone who posing a threat if not carrying a bomb themselves and then yet causing more casualties and more problems.
ROBERTSON: That's certainly something the police are very aware of. The commandos have secured the area, they want to make sure that doesn't happen, that somehow in the confusion of the battle, that somehow that the attackers could get support or that they could actually escape the vicinity. As I'm looking right now, the lights have come on even stronger, outside lights have come on the roof of the Chabad House Jewish Center. It does appear more electricity is being restored to that building. I don't see the commandos who were on the roof before, but more light now being provided onto that building. That will certainly help the commandos who we understand are still trying to take full control of the area. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Nic Robertson, thanks so much outside the Chabad House there. It's still unclear how many hostage takers, terrorists might still be inside that location where Nic says the army commandos still have a pretty significant presence there.
All right. So how do you investigate this kind of terror and prevent it from happening again? We will be talking to a former FBI special agent right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Through CNN International, now we're listening to Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni.
TZIPI LIVNI, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: We have the Israeli ambassador to India on the line. This is our ambassador and you can hear the updates together with (inaudible) where you're speaking - you're updating me as well as the people to some extent. Understand. Good evening.
Yes, what are the latest updates?
WHITFIELD: All right. They continue to get their updates as well. The Israeli foreign minister there Tzipi Livni getting updates, latest information that we have learned from the Israeli government that five hostages at the Jewish center there in Mumbai were killed. It's unclear the circumstances, whether they died as a result of the army commandos that came in to take siege and to try to get a handle on what terrorists were carrying out there or whether the terrorists themselves actually killed those five people. We'll of course update you as we get more information from that update taking place in Israel.
Meantime these attacks seem to just come out of nowhere. So how is the military intelligence community trying to react from all this? We know that from inside India as well as Pakistan, there's some cooperation, and now the U.S. is involved in the investigation and so are British authorities. Let's check in with our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr who can tell us about the U.S. intelligence side of things.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, even as we saw that video just moments ago coming in from Israel, what it really underscores is even as the situation continues to unfold on the ground in India, intelligence and security services around the world are struggling to understand what has happened. We've been talking to a number of U.S. officials over the last two days, and they are continuing to underscore this morning that perhaps the most concerning thing to them is they don't have a good understanding of what has happened. Information remains very sketchy. Now I have to tell you one senior official telling us still, the working theory in the Bush administration is that some anti-Kashmiri groups, like Lashka-E-Taiba, Jaish-e Mohammad, groups that are very well known and until this point well understood to be anti-Indian and opposing Indian control over Kashmir, that it is their view that's the working theory of the types of groups that were involved in this. But this new tactic of targeting westerners by nationality is something that has not been seen before. And as one counterterrorism official told me, that could signal possibly in his words a broader, radical Islamic agenda for these groups that had been narrowly focused.
So this opens up the concern, of course, that other radical groups are behind it, that there is financing, training, coordination, that the U.S. and western intelligence services and the Indians simply did not understand that this was going on. So that's a huge concern right now because there's no good answers for President Bush, for President-elect Barack Obama, and they are struggling to understand all of this. Just to update everyone on one more item, we have been able to confirm that in the opening hours the U.S. military did offer the Indians a very wide-ranging package of U.S. military assistance including U.S. special forces that could have gone to India to assist with the urban assault, hostage rescue portion of this operation. The Indians, of course, have declined that and are continuing to work this pretty much on their own.
WHITFIELD: And is it clear that perhaps one of the reasons why Indian authorities may have declined it is because of time, you know, having to act quickly as opposed to waiting for reinforcements to arrive?
STARR: Well I think that is certainly possible. I suspect, although I certainly don't know, the Indians had - services at least hoped they would have gotten this wrapped up very quickly. Of course, now it has gone on for, what, some 47 hours plus. So you know at this point it's very unlikely any U.S. troops would go. But I can tell you as of a few moments ago, senior U.S. military officials were saying they are still standing by if the Indians want help. At this point what is much more likely to happen is the intelligence-sharing, the law enforcement-sharing, the FBI, U.S. security agencies as well as we have been talking about similar officials from Britain, Israel, France, Australia. All of the countries that have had their citizens involved in this are going to want to share information and have a very clear idea about what has happened here. But what is becoming clear is that is going to take some time. Because at this point what we're strongly being cautioned about is there are absolutely no conclusions and no real findings yet about who is behind this.
WHITFIELD: All right. Still very much at the beginning trying to figure out the source of this terror, and making this investigation that much more complicated. Barbara Starr, thanks so much. Pentagon correspondent.
All right. So the exact identity of the attackers still a mystery as Barbara was underscoring. So joining us now to talk about what clues investigators will be looking for right now and a little bit later, former FBI agent Harold Copus, with us now. Good to see you.
So as Barbara was saying, you know while India may have turned down assistance, does it make it more complicated when you have too many countries or too many jurisdictions involved in an active crime scene as opposed to the cooperation that will come once they have stopped, I guess, the violence or at least put the brakes on it?
HAROLD COPUS, FMR. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: When you have that many different nations trying to work together, it's complex. It's better to keep it narrow and small. Eventually it's going to have to expand. You got to I.D. these guys. And as we just heard, you have to now find out where did they get the financing? This is a very sophisticated operation.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Now, when we try to identify who these people are, it would seem that a little bit of the information we're getting now about speed boats that may have been used that came from a mother ship, a larger ship, somewhere out at sea and made their way right to the coast for easy entry, it would seem that now India would be able to find the source of this because somewhere someone knows the name of that ship or at least its origin, right?
COPUS: Oh, certainly. And what's going to happen is that - I've been told now and I think it's out to everyone that the FBI is deploying several teams to India to work on this. One which will be the - their dive team. This is to look specifically into these boats, what equipment was on there, and find that mother ship. Because somehow or another that thing didn't just disappear. It came from somewhere.
WHITFIELD: And I guess the fear is that doesn't take place overnight. That, too, takes time. So if someone can be linked to that boat or that ship, they are long gone if they were not the ones who actually hit land to carry out these attacks.
COPUS: Very much so. You know, I believe what we're going to see now, this may be, quite frankly, the new face of terrorism, something like this. I believe this is the new approach. We come in, in the past we've had suicide bombers. They die, end of story, after a few days. What we're having now is something that's gone on for at least 48 hours right now, and it will continue if they're captured and they have trials. This is a great forum for these guys.
WHITFIELD: So investigators all over the world, the U.S. and Great Britain included, have asked Pakistan, wait a minute, if we understand that this ship may have originated from Karachi, certainly do you know about that ship leaving port. Pakistan apparently, according to some reporting says, we don't know anything about it.
COPUS: Impossible. You and I both know that doesn't wash.
WHITFIELD: Every country has to know, every port has to have some record of a ship of that size departing.
COPUS: Certainly. So that's eye wash for someone. That's not true. And when it really boils down, we're going to see a lot of dominos will start being moved around. Checkers are going to fall. There's a lot of things that are going to happen here. WHITFIELD: But why would Pakistan not want to be involved in this when publicly much of Pakistan has said we want to be very much involved in the war on terror. There's that cooperation, at least under Musharraf, that cooperation with the U.S. to get to the bottom of this. Why would now, why would Pakistan now be any different?
COPUS: I suspect it will go back into some politics and be the relations back with India. So we have a lot that's playing here. We just have to wait and see how these cards come out.
WHITFIELD: What concerns you most about what we're seeing here, how this has played out, how effective really these terrorists have been with this kind of sophistication that, if this port of Mumbai could be targeted like this, essentially surrounded by water, this port city, could be targeted like this, what about other port cities across the country?
COPUS: Well, I would say -
WHITFIELD: - the vulnerabilities of that?
COPUS: Certainly. Let's go back to the United States. It really shows how porous we are and we're not prepared. So maybe some of the major ports, Miami, going all the way up through the east coast. But if you come back into the Gulf, I think we're highly vulnerable in there. And I think there's a great chance that we could have an exposure. We don't have the manpower. We don't have the sophistication to take care and watch every container coming in at every port. We've got a lot of shores to watch.
WHITFIELD: Why do you think we are so vulnerable when for a long time, particularly in the last three years, the U.S. government has assured America that our ports are safe because that has been investigated and that has been probed and the U.S. response is you know we've got a lot of in places, that we don't want to publicize what we had in place to make sure our ports are safe?
COPUS: Well, I think what we're really talking about is the fact that they're saying, we're not going to bring in maybe nuclear weapons or a nuclear bomb through some of these ports. But if I were to come back, and I were to take a ship, bring it into the gulf, you can track it. I make a decision and at a certain point I stop off, turn left and go into Mexico, and I deploy those rapid boats that they use for this operation, what have we done? We've just laid ourselves open. And I think I'm telling you I believe this is the new face of terrorism.
WHITFIELD: Now while investigators all around the world, particularly in India, but all around the world are trying to figure out who these terrorists are, I mention Pakistan because initial reports were that this ship may originate from Karachi; however, now new reporting is also indicating that possibly according to British authorities, two of those militants may be British citizens. How concerning is that for you that among these alleged terrorists could be from Great Britain? COPUS: Well, what it shows one more time, that we're fighting something that's international. There is no borders for these people. And they could care less if they come in from Pakistan -
WHITFIELD: what does it tell you about the access to materials, very sophisticated material?
COPUS: It says that if they have that ability, it says we can't control it and we have to watch and be more vigilant than ever before because of what they're doing now.
WHITFIELD: Are you alarmed or concerned about greater vulnerabilities that you ever suspected where it comes to the U.S. or even Great Britain since we have such a close relationship?
COPUS: What I'm really concerned about now is when the next shoe will drop. If this is the first shoe that we've seen with the new approach, I think it's a great test. It's shown it's been successful, as horrible as that sounds. Now what we have to say what's going to happen on our borders. Really a major concern now.
WHITFIELD: Former FBI special agent Harold Copus. Thanks so much. Now we're going to be touching upon your expertise again. So don't go far. We really appreciate it. Thanks so much.
COPUS: Thank you.
Reaction now coming from President elect. Our coverage of the Mumbai attacks continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The terror in Mumbai, still unfolding. We understand right now confirmation from the U.S. State Department, two Americans were killed over the past 48 hours in the mayhem that struck Mumbai. We have not been able to confirm the identities of those individuals, but we will bring you the latest as we get it.
Also in Mumbai, our crews are on the ground and they're all hearing new explosions at the Taj Mahal Hotel. You're looking at images of the Taj there. Mumbai police tell us that at least one militant is still holdup in that hotel. And a tragic end to the standoff at the Jewish center not far away, there in Mumbai. The bodies of five hostages have been found. Unclear about the circumstances of their deaths.
Meantime, here in this country, President-elect Barack Obama is reacting to the attacks in India.
Let's go live to Chicago, and CNN's Ed Henry -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Fred. We're not getting reaction just yet to the news of the U.S. deaths, obviously, that tragic news coming in, and obviously the Obama transition team wants to make sure they get more information on all that. But, you're right. They have reacted to the attacks. They've been saying that they you know, want to deplore the attacks and they want to get as much information as possible that they can get. The President-elect, we're told, has been getting briefings throughout the last couple of days.
In fact, he got a Thanksgiving day briefing yesterday, directly from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She did that over the telephone. You remember she was at Camp David and has been at Camp David with President Bush, directly briefing him, as well. And then providing telephone briefings to the President-elect.
What we're seeing is some cooperation, some communication of both sides. Both the Obama and Bush camps realize that during this transfer of power they want to make sure that they're speaking with one voice, there's no daylight between them. And clearly the Bush side wants to make sure that the Obama camp is getting as much information as they can.
In addition to those phone calls from Secretary of State Rice, there have also been various Bush officials at the State Department, other agencies, intelligence folks, for example, passing on information to Barack Obama's national security team. Which then they pass on to him in the form of briefings, as well.
So, we're seeing this sort of constant contact to make sure both the current President and the President-elect are fully in the loop. Obviously for Barack Obama, he cannot really take any action yet. We have not seen him reach out, for example, to the Indian Prime Minister because he has not been sworn in yet. He's not in control of the U.S. armed forces, he's not in control of potentially U.S. relief efforts.
So, he's trying to walk a very fine line here in Chicago, Fred, where he's in the loop but not actually getting in the way, if you will. And I think next week will be an important moment, because we're expecting Barack Obama to roll out his national security team. And much as we've seen on the financial crisis, Barack Obama has been trying not to interfere with the Bush administration's efforts in dealing with the economy.
But he rolled out his economic team this week to try to send a signal to the markets that he's going to try as he says in his own words, hit the ground running on January 20th of next year, to deal with the financial crisis. They're going to try to send the same message next week about national security, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Ed Henry in Chicago. Thank you so much.
Well, I mentioned that the U.S. State Department has confirmed that two Americans were among those killed in this terror in Mumbai. And one of our producers -- editorial producer Beth Rotatori actually has spoken with the wife and mother of the two Americans killed in Mumbai.
We understand now, Beth, you can give us an account of that conversation and perhaps even officially identify those killed? BETH ROTATORI, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: That's right, Fredicka. I just spoke with Kia Scherr (ph). As you said, she is the wife and mother of the two Americans who were killed in the attacks in Mumbai.
Her husband, Alan Scherr was 58; her daughter Naomi Scherr, was 13. Kia told me that she got a call from an official at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, a little before 6:00 this morning. And that official told her that another member of the group they were traveling with -- her family members were traveling with, had been able to identify the bodies of her husband and daughter who -- which were still inside the Oberoi hotel.
WHITFIELD: Now, can you give me an idea of the family -- Alan and Naomi were traveling with this group. Do you know anything more about the circumstances of how they got caught up in what took place at the Oberoi hotel?
ROTATORI: We don't have too much more detail on that situation. We're still trying to confirm that with the family. The family has been getting a bit of conflicting information from other members of the group that were traveling with them, the U.S. Consulate on the ground in Mumbai, I think is still trying to confirm a lot of that information.
Kia Scherr is hoping to speak with the members of the group that were traveling with her husband and daughter in Mumbai, a little later today and get some more detailed, confirmed information about exactly what happened.
WHITFIELD: Do we know -- now, they're from Virginia, correct?
ROTATORI: Yes, they are.
WHITFIELD: OK. Do we know how long Alan and Naomi Scherr had been traveling in India, if not just primarily in Mumbai?
ROTATORI: I'm not exactly sure of the details of their trip. I think they were primarily in Mumbai, and had been in the country for about a couple of weeks. But again, I don't have specific information on exactly when they arrived or how long they had been there.
WHITFIELD: And Beth, when you spoke with Kia Scherr, who is the mother of Naomi and the wife of Alan Scherr, did she give you any idea initially when she learned of all that was taking place there in Mumbai, 48 hours ago, had she been trying to reach her husband and daughter, trying to find out where they were, while all of this was under way?
ROTATORI: She had been in touch with officials at the State Department after she learned of the attacks and I think many members of the group both in Mumbai, and back here in the United States, had been trying to reach each other, keep in touch with each other and keep each other up dated on what was going on.
But again, as I understand it, there was a lot of kind of conflicting information that was flying fast and furious as the members of the group who were in Mumbai, were trying to get in touch with folks back home. And everyone back home was trying to keep each other updated on what was going on.
WHITFIELD: Heart-stopping moments for Kia Scherr.
Again, the image that you're seeing there as Alan, 58 years-old -- Alan Scherr, along with his daughter there, 13 year-old Naomi Scherr. They were in Mumbai, traveling with a group of people. They were at that five-star luxury hotel of the Oberoi, which was one of two hotels that were taken over by these terrorists.
And sadly, Alan and Naomi Scherr were killed. Our producer, Beth Rotatori has been speaking with Kia Scherr, who is the mother of Naomi, and wife of Alan. And learned from the consulate through the State Department about the demise to these two.
Our hearts go out to the Scherr family. There they are as a complete unit, as a family. And now Kia Scherr surely grieving the loss of her daughter there in the middle and her husband on the far right.
Beth Rotatori, our editorial producer. Thanks so much in contact with Kia Scherr. Again to the Scherr family, our hearts go out to you.
Explosions are still being heard meantime from the Jewish center in Mumbai. Hours after Indian commandos raided the terrorist strong hold, the fighting comes as we get confirmation now that five hostages at that center were found dead inside. We're still awaiting more details about how this all went down.
CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is outside the Jewish center right now. And Nick, earlier, as you and I have been speaking, there was still a huge crowd outside that center and it was unclear to you what the commandos were doing.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the crowd has idea quite thinned out quite considerably now, Fredicka. And we understand from an Israeli search and rescue team who have been here on standby throughout the day, they are telling us that they've been on standby to help end the stand-off situation. They are telling us that what they understand is that the situation is now over, and no one survived.
We do know that, we do know that those five hostages, the rabbi, his wife, his two children and what we believe was a housekeeper, perished in the attack. They -- the Israeli search and rescue team are telling us that they believe the situation here is now over.
We were hearing explosions up to about 45 minutes ago. We haven't heard any recently. We've seen some of the soldiers who've been in there, the commandos, coming out carrying boxes of equipment. We've seen the police change shifts and other policemen go in to maintain the corridor (ph) around the area to control the area of onlookers. But right now I'm looking down onto quite a relaxed situation with police officers and soldiers standing by the side of the road in large numbers, still, but quite relaxed. And we haven't heard any explosions. However, it has to be said that it would have been typical of the standoff is, it will go quiet and then there will be explosions.
And it did appear that despite the fact that the rabbi and his family had been found dead inside the Chabad House, the Jewish center, that there was still an attacker on the loose. That seems to be why we were still hearing the explosions. But now it appears perhaps, and we're waiting for police confirmation. It appears perhaps that yes, the standoff is over. But, we've seen that rumor come and go, as well. So, we're really at this stage, Fredricka, waiting for confirmation. But, it does seem to be on -- very much on the edge side right now, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Nic, the Chabad House served as both the Jewish community center and the residence of the rabbi and his family, right?
So, can you kind of describe for us what you're seeing in terms of that structure, even though I know you've described that a side of it has been blown out because of the army commandos that repelled down to that building.
ROBERTSON: Well, it's quite interesting, Fredicka. It's a five- story building. I'm looking across at it right now. And a little earlier, the lights were on at the top of the building. Then flood lights were put on at the top of the building. Those lights have now been turned off. And what I've been able to see as we've been talking is a flood light way across the side of the building, lighting up parts and moving around.
And I just see it's getting brighter right now, the flood lights moving around. A second light coming on higher up in the building. It appears to be somebody is searching that building using very strong flood lights that are illuminating the building very, very brightly that I can see from this distance. So, it appears there is a search of that building going on inside or outside. It's not clear. But that's what we can see from a distance going on at the Chabad house, the Jewish center here -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. We'll continue to check back with you. Nic Robertson, there outside of that Jewish center. Thanks so much.
Again, confirmation that the five hostages, the bodies of them have been located. More live reports from Mumbai. We're going back to the scenes of the ongoing commando operations at the hotels, as well as more on that Jewish center.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Updating you now on the latest from Mumbai. We have been hearing new explosions at the Taj Mahal hotel throughout the morning. Police say at least one gunman may still be inside. Some hotel guests hold up in their rooms have been able to escape, however today.
And then not far away at the Jewish center in Mumbai, five hostages are dead. That news came a short time ago after Indian commandos stormed the center. We now know that two Americans are among the dead in Mumbai. The death toll in all from the attacks stands at 151.
At least 327 people have been wounded in the seize in Mumbai. Blood has been spilling out into the streets. The wounded have been overcrowding the area hospitals.
CNN's Matthew Chance has more on these shattered lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're the survivors of Mumbai's appalling attacks, scarred by gunshots and shrapnel wounds in the violence that gripped India's financial heart. Some only escaped death by a whisker.
Like 40-year-old Romesh (ph), who showed me the bullet hole in his shoulder, inflicted when gunman burst into the restaurant where he was eating with his boss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My boss died on the floor. So, he was sitting in the sofa, we were hiding. So, I saw this person coming with the gun. So he was using a BlackBerry. I pulled the BlackBerry like this and cover him like this. So I got here on the -- no, here on the --
CHANCE (on camera): You got shot in the shoulder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first one. And he asked me, are you all right. I told, yes, I'm fine. Second shot came to him on the -- direct to him. And the third it came and just went like this.
CHANCE (voice-over): We were granted exclusive access to Mumbai's Sundjaja (ph) hospital, where most of the injured from the past few days are being treated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the belt of one of the policemen who --
CHANCE: One doctor shows me a twisted belt buckle he said stopped a terrorist's bullet, saving the life of the policeman who was wearing it.
(on camera): All of these injured have incredible stories of survival to tell. Many have lost friends and loved ones in the Mumbai attacks. And they may not even be the last casualties to come out of this mess. This city's nightmare is far from over.
(voice-over): For some like this 13-year-old boy, the nightmare may never end. He's nursing wounds from a grenade blast that ripped through one of Mumbai's residential zones. He wants to leave hospital soon, he told me, and go home. But doctors here say they don't have the heart to tell him that most of his family, his mom, his dad, his uncle and cousins were killed in the attack. It is another shattered life in a city now filled with tragedy.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Mumbai.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So who might be behind these Mumbai attacks? We get some leads from our international security correspondent Paula Newton straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Americans in the line of fire. New information coming in to us within the last hour. We now know that two Americans were indeed killed in the Mumbai attacks. And we also have an identification of them, Alan and Naomi Scherr, out of Virginia.
Meantime, the standoff continues at the Taj Mahal hotel. Right now, Mumbai police tell us that at least one militant is still hold up in the hotel. We have heard new explosions coming from the hotel throughout the morning.
And an Israeli search and rescue team tells us the standoff at the Jewish center is over. Indian commandos stormed the building hours ago. The bodies, sadly, of five hostages were discovered inside.
Now, India's foreign minister says a preliminary investigation indicates that some of the attackers came from Pakistan. Joining us from London, our international security correspondent, Paula Newton -- Paula.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Fredicka, we should be clear here that all the information that the British government, the American government are getting right now is coming from Indian resources. So, if they're saying that they found some people of Pakistani decent, we're going to have to take their word from it until it can be investigated further.
Now, what we have been reporting before as well, is that very on during these attacks, more than 48 hours ago now, intelligent sources told us here at CNN, that they were investigating the involvement of British citizens in this attack. And now we have learned that, in fact, from domestic intelligence here, MI5, from external intelligence, MI6 and Scotland Yard are on the ground in Mumbai, trying to figure out if British-born or anybody holding a British passport might have been involved in these attacks.
WHITFIELD: And Paula, that there is this cooperation, seemingly very open cooperation between British authorities and there in India, as well.
Are the British authorities saying they're getting the cooperation from Indian authorities on the ground? That they are being welcomed, their intelligence and their fact-finding capabilities are being, indeed, welcome there in India?
NEWTON: Absolutely. I can tell you from what we've been told -- and just to set the scene for you. Even though relationships between Britain and the United States and India, diplomatically and economically have been at a high point, I can tell you, intelligence cooperation was at a low point.
This may be a trigger to open that up and see if they can all start cooperating on a different level. And believe me, Fredricka, they need to. What I'm being told right now is look, even as we were getting these notes, almost 48 hours ago, you know, the British were being told perhaps of British involvement. They were fast-tracked visas and they were on a plane to Mumbai as fast as they possibly could be.
And that is good news. We are aware as well, that American teams are on their way there. And also good news -- and this is not insignificant, is that the head of Pakistani intelligence is also going to India. Whatever can be done here to try to and figure out as much as what motivated this, is important.
WHITFIELD: All right. Paula Newton, thanks so much. International security correspondent there in London. Appreciate it.
Meantime, we continue to watch the situation there in Mumbai. Right now the death toll, 151, from these attacks taking place in Mumbai, within the past 48 hours. 327 injured. And among those killed, two Americans, now confirmation a Virginia father and daughter who were killed at the Oberoi hotel there. One of the two luxury hotels that were targeted by these terrorists. Much more straight ahead on the terror in Mumbai.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Still off and on gunfire at the luxury Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. One gunmen is believed to be still hold up there, almost 48 hours after the terror attacks began. At least 151 people have been killed in all from all the the attacks taking place in Mumbai, including two Americans. Five hostages at the Chabad House have also been killed. Still a mystery who the gunmen were and who trained them and financed this operation.
Surviving the siege. The stories are amazing. This Canadian man is now recounting his escape from the Oberoi hotel. He says that he ignored a knock at the door of his room suspecting it was an armed terrorist. He then gathered his things and actually made a run for it, to the exit leading others to safety along the way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I received a text from a friend of mine to meet him in the lobby of the Oberoi for a drink. But I had an early flight and decided to pass and just go to sleep.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a big fear and a lot of confusion from the Indian side. We were just seeing CNN and trying to understand what would be the next steps. And a lot of fear of what's going on. Some of the time we heard some of the shoots.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Andy Verigona (ph) was one of the American citizens wounded in the attacks. She called home to tell her husband that she was ambushed and shot. And she was hit in the arm and the leg. Her friend was shot in the back. We don't know what their condition is, however, right now.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield here in the NEWSROOM. Join us again Monday morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. I'll see you again this weekend, beginning at noontime. For now, the CNN NEWSROOM continues with my colleague Tony Harris.
