Mumbai: At least five hostages and two terrorists have been killed at Nariman House, a Jewish centre in Mumbai that was taken over by militants on Wednesday night.
J K Dutt, director general of the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, confirmed the death of five hostages and that of two terrorists at the Jewish centre in Colaba.
“We have captured the whole building,” said Dutt, adding the commandos were moving through the building to check for explosives.
"We had taken over the second floor of the house when a grenade was launched from above. Three hostages were killed by terrorists before they moved upstairs. NSG commandos moved upstairs to kill two terrorists on the fourth floor. Terrorists killed two hostages in this floor," said Dutt. "Nariman House charge will be given to CRPF and Mumbai Police after the operation is over."
Gavriel Holtzberg, the rabbi of the Nariman House, and his wife Rivka were among the five hostages found dead by the commandos. The couple's two-year-old son and a staff member at the centre managed to escape the building on Friday morning.
The five-storey Jewish centre is a popular stop for Israeli tourists, especially backpackers, who visit India in thousands every year after finishing their national army service or after their university studies.
Portions of the building have been damaged after rocket-propelled grenades were launched as part of terrorist flush-out operation. NSG commandos entered the building early on Friday morning after rappelling from a helicopter onto the roof of the Jewish centre.
Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 155 while 327 others have been injured in the terror attacks that began on Wednesday night. The dead include eight foreigners.
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