Livni: Israelis, Americans targeted Photo: Gil Yohanan
Chabad house after attack Photo: AP
Livni: Western world under attack
Foreign minister tells press conference no details on Chabad attack in Mumbai can be divulged until Indian commando completes operation within; Israeli security personnel, medical teams standing by as battle resumes on third floor
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni convened a press conference Friday in which she stated that Foreign Ministry personnel were awaiting the end of the Indian commando operation in the Mumbai Chabad house.
Terrible Ending
Report: 5 hostages found dead in Chabad house / Ynet
Indian CNN television channel reports operation at Jewish center concludes as commandos take over building, killing all terrorists on site. Five bodies of hostages found, believed to include those of rabbi and wife
"It appears the incident is over," she said. "The senior security officer and his people asked permission to enter the premises but then more shooting and explosions broke out."
Livni said Indian security forces were still in the building, moving from floor to floor of the building in an attempt to clear it of terrorist presence. She added that ZAKA and medical teams were standing by. Indian television reports said five hostages had been killed in the terror attack.
The foreign minister said initial reports had indicated that the situation at the Chabad house was "very problematic". She added, "Our world is under attack, and it doesn't matter if it's in India or somewhere else. Only when things like this happen do we understand that we are partners in the same battle.
"This is a reminder to the world. We are the target, and it's not just Israel but the whole Western world. As we understand it they were looking for guests with American, British, and Israeli citizenship."
Israel's ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, updated the conference by phone. He said the fighting had been rekindled on the house's third floor, and that security and IDF personnel were still standing by.
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