28 November 2008

BRUSSELS - A European parliament delegation was in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in the Indian city along with top industry executives and well-heeled tourists when the stunning raids were launched on Wednesday night.

The head of Madrid's regional government, who was on an official trip to India, said she walked barefoot through pools of blood to get away from the carnage.

Sajjad Karim, a Conservative member of the European parliament from northwest England, told BBC radio how he was walking out of the front doors of the Taj Mahal Palace when the gunmen burst in.

"All of a sudden there was gunshots that we could hear from outside the main grounds of the hotel. We were directed back into the hotel."

He went on: "As we got to the rear exit another gunman came in who was carrying an automatic machine gun type of weapon and he just started firing that, quite indiscriminately really."

The MEPs hid in a kitchen area, while the gunmen went on their rampage reportedly demanding whether guests had British or US passports.

They "made their way along the corridors, and they were entering rooms and firing and security guards were exchanging fire with them."

The European Union expressed "horror and indignation" over the attacks.

European parliament spokesman Jaume Duch said the EU delegation included two Germans, two Britons, a Pole, a Hungarian and a Spaniard, all from the same parliamentary committee. They were with six officials and three interpreters.

"In principle, everyone is doing fine at last word. We are quite relieved," said the spokesman, adding that most found refuge in the French consulate in the city.

Duch said one Hungarian official went to a Mumbai hospital after being caught up "in the middle of the shooting" but left again with no injury.

Spanish deputy Ignasi Guardans was interviewed on Spanish national radio as he hid in a restaurant with other EU lawmakers.

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