PM pledges help in wake of massacre
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was too early to say whether any British lives were lost in the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
The Prime Minister said the horrific incident was met by "shock and outrage" around the world and pledged all possible UK support for the Indian authorities in dealing with it.
Mr Brown spoke after visiting staff at a Foreign Office emergency response centre, which he said had already taken more than 800 calls. "We will do whatever is necessary to protect British citizens and ensure the world is a safer place," he said.
"This is a horrific incident which has shocked and outraged people around the world; this is the loss of innocent lives, people just going about their daily business. We've got to do everything we can now to help the Indian authorities."
Asked about reports that a Briton was amongst those killed in the shootings, he said: "We have to wait and get all the information together.
"There are obviously British casualties and the High Commissioner is visiting those people who are injured in the hospitals of Mumbai. It is clear that a lot of people are also caught up in the hotel and we must make sure that they are safe."
The Prime Minister said it was not known yet who was responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, Britons caught up in the attacks have spoken of frantic scenes. Alex Chamberlain, who works for a sports website and was in Mumbai on business, told Sky News he believed the gunmen were looking for British and American visitors.
He said: "They told everybody to stop and put their hands up and asked if there were any British or Americans. My friend said to me, 'Don't be a hero, don't say you are British'."
Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim said he was forced to flee to a "safe" basement in the Taj after gunmen stormed the hotel. He said: "I was in a room that was completely sealed off but I could hear what was going on. (The Indian security forces) fought them floor by floor, and room by room."
