MEP caught in hotel attack
A British Euro-MP was among guests forced to flee fire in their Mumbai hotel during an attack by gunmen.
North West Tory MEP Sajjad Karim, speaking from a basement room at Taj Mahal Palace in the Indian capital, said he had no idea why the hotel was targeted.
Mr Karim said he saw people falling as he ran from the hotel lobby, but did not know the extent of any casualties. He said it seemed to be "a random attack".
Conservative Party chairman Caroline Spelman said: "The top priority must be the safety of all those involved. We all hope the situation will be resolved quickly and safely."
Gunmen targeted luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks in India's financial capital, wounding 25 people, according to police.
AN Roy, police commissioner of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, said several people had been wounded in the attacks and police battled the gunmen.
He said: "The terrorists have used automatic weapons and in some places grenades have been lobbed.".
Gunmen opened fire on two of the city's best known Luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi. They also attacked the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold's restaurant, a Mumbai landmark.
It was not immediately clear what the motive was for the attacks.
At least 25 people were taken to the G.T. Hospital near the shootings, said hospital official Yogesh Pandey.
