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Terrorists kill dozens in Mumbai

MUMBAI, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Gunmen shot up India's financial capital Wednesday, killing dozens of people, wounding scores more and taking others hostage.

Press Trust of India reports indiscriminate gunfire and explosions across Mumbai began about 10:30 p.m.

The BBC reported at least 80 people were killed and 250 wounded. Four suspected terrorists had been killed and nine arrested, the British network said. CNN reported 87 dead and 185 injured, with at least nine terrorists killed.

Attackers took hostages at two luxury hotels -- the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi Trident -- where the BBC reported it was believed the armed men were holding dozens of hostages. CNN reported at least 7-15 people being held in one hotel.

Fire destroyed part of the Taj Mahal Palace, which was surrounded by government troops. Bullets and blasts were reported at as many as 16 locations in the western coastal metropolis throughout the day, with 11 police officers killed in firefights, the BBC said. The head of Mumbai's anti-terrorism unit was among the dead, officials said.

A previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen said it was responsible for the sophisticated attacks but the authenticity of the claim had not been verified by authorities.

One witness told the BBC he saw a gunman shooting in the Taj Mahal lobby.

"We all moved through the lobby in the opposite direction and another gunman then appeared toward where we were moving and he started firing immediately in our direction," the unnamed witness said.

One British tourist said she spent six hours barricaded in the Oberoi hotel.

"There were about 20 or 30 people in each room. The doors were locked very quickly, the lights turned off, and everybody just lay very still on the floor," she said.

Rep. Dingell released from hospital

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., was released from a Washington-area hospital Wednesday following complications from knee replacement surgery.

Dingell, 82, "will be back to work Friday to continue his work with the Michigan delegation to provide the domestic auto makers with a financial relief package to save millions of American jobs," said his spokesman, Michael Robbins.

Dingell was hospitalized Tuesday at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland for post-surgical complications from his October knee surgery, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Last week, Dingell lost a closely fought battle to keep his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Harry Waxman, D-Calif., beat him out for the powerful post.

Former first lady suffers perforated ulcer

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HOUSTON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was recovering Wednesday after emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer at a Houston hospital, a family spokesman said Wednesday.

KPRC-TV in Houston reported the former first lady was "resting comfortably" at Methodist Hospital, where she was admitted Tuesday night.

The spokesman said the 83-year-old Barbara Bush had a 1-centimeter hole in her stomach, which was repaired through a small incision in her abdomen. The surgery was completed about 2 a.m. EST Wednesday, ABC News reported

Bush, accompanied by her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, was hospitalized after complaining of pain in her abdomen. Her surgeon, Dr. Pat Reardon, said Wednesday afternoon she told him the ulcer was "the worst pain she had ever felt," ABC said.

The former first lady was expected to stay in intensive care for at least 24 hours and likely would remain hospitalized until next week, the network said. She won't be able to eat for about that long and will receive antibiotics intravenously.

Reardon said Bush was doing very well, and her vital signs were stable.

Bush's daughter-in-law, current first lady Laura Bush, told ABC her mother-in-law was "doing great."

"The White House doctor did talk to Barbara Bush's doctor, and she's doing very well, and we're really, really thankful," Laura Bush said. Suspect in Wash. mall shooting arrested

TUKWILA, Wash., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The man police suspect in a fatal mall shooting in Washington was arrested in Oregon Wednesday and was being held on $1 million bail.

Mike Murphy, spokesman for police in Tukwila, Wash., said Barry L. Saunders Jr., 21, who has lived in Kent and Tukwila, was arrested in Portland, Ore., about noon but police there didn't realize until about two hours later that they were holding a gang-related murder suspect. Tukwila investigators were on their way to Portland to begin extradition proceedings, Murphy told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"We're really happy to have the shooter in custody," Murphy said.

Police allege surveillance video from the Westfield Southcenter mall helped identify Saunders as the individual who Saturday fatally shot Daiquan L. Jones and wounded Jermaine D. McGowan, both 16.

McGowan was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The mall violence was prompted by a gang conflict that escalated into a fistfight and ended with two gunshots, police allege.

The Post-Intelligencer said Saunders is the sole suspect in the case and has already been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault.