SITREP 6: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AT TAJ; 5 AMCITS CONFIRMED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUMBAI 000550 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR: DS/ER/CC DS FRONT OFFICE DS/IP/SCA/ DS/DSS/ITA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC CASC IN SUBJECT: SITREP 6: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AT TAJ; 5 AMCITS CONFIRMED DEAD AND NEXT OF KIN NOTIFIED, A 6TH POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED PENDING NOK NOTIFICATION; ALL LIVING AMCITS BELIEVED TO BE EVACUATED. REF: A. MUMBAI 549, 548, 547, 546, 545 ¶B. RYDE TF1 TELECONFERENCE 11/29/09 0230 MUMBAI 00000550 001.2 OF 002 Operations Continue at Taj -------------- 1.(SBU) As of 02:30 operations continue at the Taj Hotel, where media is reporting that at least one terrorist remains. Some though minimal gunfire continues to be heard. Officials have told the media that no hostages remain. ConOff Eric Jordan was at the Taj Hotel until 9 pm on November 28 and described the situation as a war zone. Police were shelling the hotel with what they told him were rocket propelled grenades. All Amcits we were in contact with/aware of at the Taj are now out of the hotel. Currently, police have locked off the area and are not allowing access. Nariman, Oberoi Sieges End. -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The siege of Nariman (Chabad) House has ended. Police report that all inside were found dead: 2 terrorists and 5 others, including 3 presumed Americans. The consular/RSO team was denied access because of a live grenade on the premises. The Israeli embassy is making arrangements for burial per Jewish rites. ¶3. (SBU) Police allowed ConOff access to the Trident/Oberoi at 1720 on 28 November along with the French Ambassador, French Consul General and several groups of civilians to identify the deceased. There were numerous police, military, and hotel staff members on site. Most of the outer windows were blown out in both properties. Bullet holes were evident throughout both buildings. Trails of blood began in the hallway between the Trident and the Oberoi. The main casualty area observed was the Oberoi's lobby restaurant. There were a minimum 15-20 dead bodies throughout the restaurant; all had been stripped of all clothes except for underwear. (The reason for this was unclear.) ConOff identified two dead bodies that we believe matched the descriptions of Naomi and Alan Scherr. All living Amcits have been evacuated from the Oberoi. Authorities are in the process of transferring bodies to the morgue. Yes Bank Chairman Among Dead -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Media has reported that Yes Bank Chairman and founder Ashok Kapur is reported among the casualties at the Oberoi. Anti-Pak Chants at Nariman House -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Conoff reported at around 00:00 that a crowd of 300-400 people had gathered outside Nariman House, shouting "Down with Pakistan." We have no other reports of civil unrest or anti-Pakistan demonstrations. MUMBAI 00000550 002.2 OF 002 Casualties -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Five Amcits Confirmed Dead: Amcits Sandeep Jeswani, Ben Zion Chroman, Rabbil Gavriel Holtzberg, and Alan and Naomi Scherr. NOK has been notified in all cases but Holtzberg, whose family cannot be notified during Shabbat due to religious beliefs. Conoffs will make the official notification to the Holtzberg family, who are lodging with the Isreali CG in Mumbai, after sunset Saturday. ¶7. (SBU) Police reported to CG that Amcit Aryeh Teitelbaum was killed by terrorists in the Nariman House attack but conoffs were unable to locate his body at the morgue where Nariman House victims were reportedly taken. RSO and Conoffs are following up with local authorities and will continue to search for Teitelbaum in local hospitals and morgues. ¶8. (SBU) We have consular teams on the ground at the Taj, the central morgue, and the airport to assist those wishing to depart Mumbai. We conducted visits to the two confirmed hospitalized Amcits earlier in the day and remain in contact. Our consular officers are working closely with the FBI's Office of Victim Assistance to repatriate victims, both living and dead. Help Has Arrived -------------- 9.(SBU) A team from New Delhi and other consulates has arrived to assist: 2 from FBI, 3 from RSO, 2 Consular, 1 Public Affairs, 2 Management and 1 Political Officer. The FBI is coordinating extra assistance. FOLMSBEE