Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUMBAI550
2008-11-28 22:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Mumbai
Cable title:
SITREP 6: OPERATIONS CONTINUE AT TAJ; 5 AMCITS CONFIRMED
how-toVZCZCXRO2002 OO RUEHAST RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHBI #0550/01 3332212 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 282212Z NOV 08 FM AMCONSUL MUMBAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6758 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 7996 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI IMMEDIATE 1920 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA IMMEDIATE 1742 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI IMMEDIATE 1947 RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI IMMEDIATE 0009 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 0812 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
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
--------------------------
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
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