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TIMELINE: Attack on Mumbai

Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:04am EST

(Reuters) - Indian commandos killed the last Islamist gunmen holed up at Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel, ending a three-day battle at landmarks across India's financial capital that has killed at least 155 people.

World

Following is a timeline of the attacks on Mumbai:

* WEDNESDAY:

-- Islamist gunmen attack Mumbai in at least seven places shortly after 10.30 p.m. Around two dozen militants armed with automatic rifles and grenades attack targets including luxury hotels -- the Taj Mahal and the Trident Oberoi -- hospitals, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and the popular Leopold cafe.

-- Gunmen remain holed up in the hotels and at Chabad House, a popular stop for Israeli visitors. Many are reported killed and the army begins moving into the Trident Oberoi hotel.

-- Police say at least some of the attackers came ashore in a rubber dinghy.

-- The chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai is killed in the attack.

* THURSDAY:

-- Commandos fight room-to-room battles in the two hotels to rescue people trapped by the gunmen. Explosions rattle the Taj hotel where some hostages are rescued.

-- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blames militant groups based in India's neighbors, usually meaning Pakistan.

-- Pakistan condemns the attacks and promises full cooperation in fighting terrorism.

* FRIDAY:

-- India points a finger at Pakistani-linked "elements" for the attacks in Mumbai.

-- At the Trident Oberoi Hotel, commandos kill two militants and free 143 guests.

-- Gunmen continue to hold out at the nearby Taj hotel.

-- Five hostages inside the besieged Jewish center are found dead.

-- At least 12 foreigners -- three Germans, two Americans, one Australian, a Briton, Canadian, two French, an Italian and a Japanese national -- are among the dead.

-- Pakistan says the two countries face a common enemy. Urging India not to play politics, it agrees to send its spy chief to share intelligence on the suicide attacks.

-- Police say 124 people are killed and 284 wounded.

* SATURDAY:

-- Indian commandos kill the last Islamist gunmen holed up at Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel, ending a three-day battle at landmarks across India's financial capital that has killed at least 155 people.

-- At least three militants and one trooper were killed after a running gunbattle through a maze of corridors, rooms and halls.

-- India blamed the strike on "elements" from Pakistan, raising tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Pakistan said the two countries faced a common enemy and it would send a representative of its spy agency to share intelligence.

(Writing by Jijo Jacob and David Cutler, Editorial Reference Units in Bangalore and London; Editing by Valerie Lee)



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