Indian troops free hostages in one hotel

Indian commandos have managed to free hostages held overnight in Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace hotel (pictured) after a night of terror attacks across the city that saw at least 101 people confirmed dead. Between 50 and 200 hostages are still being held at the Oberoi hotel as Islamist militant gunmen demand the release of "mujahideens" and militants held in Indian jails.

The gunmen are believed to have arrived in Bombay by boat near the colonial-era landmark the Gateway of India before fanning out across the southern part of the city to hit targets including a backpacker pub, hospitals and a railway station, Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus, where 10 people were shot dead.

At least 11 police officers, including anti-terrorism squad chief, Hemant Karkare, were killed in the attacks. There was a taxi bomb in the city's financial district and reports of a bomb boat, which was said to be defused.

Rakesh Patel, a 41-year-old Londoner working for HSBC was in the Taj hotel when gunmen burst in.

He said: "They were asking for any US and UK passport holders and got everyone to drop their phones on the ground. At that point there was a huge blast and in all the smoke I managed to run back down the fire escape."

A previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but it is thought that may be an assumed name, or hoax.