Aussies arrive home to tell of attack on the Taj
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 01 Dec 2008: 4.
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 01 Dec 2008: 4.
Abstract
“The terrorists shot everyone,” Ms [Debra Bayne] said. “I was told they didn’t even know how to turn on a television set. They knew guns, hate, killing and destruction and nothing else. And they were just young.”
Phil Sweeney, also part of the delegation, at one stage rang his family to say goodbye. “I smashed my hotel window and it was too far to jump so I rang them all and said `hooray’ — I thought that was the end.”
Full Text
PEOPLE have begun arriving home with harrowing stories of their experiences in Mumbai, as the Government yesterday announced 85Australians in the area affected by the attacks had been confirmed safe.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed four Australians were listed as injured. They include Katie Anstee, 24, from Sydney, who remains in a Mumbai hospital after being shot through the thigh.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said there was the possibility that Australians unknown to the authorities were in the hotels. He said they would have to wait on the identification of the victims by Indian authorities.
DFAT said it had confirmed the death of Brett Taylor, 49, from Sydney, who was part of a NSW trade delegation. The family of Douglas Markell, 71, a businessman from Sydney, had advised the department he had been killed.
Debra Bayne, who was also part of the trade delegation, was trapped on the 19th floor of the Taj Hotel for more than 18 hours.
The Indian police finally blasted her and a colleague out of a room before escorting them past dead bodies and down 19 floors and outside.
“The terrorists shot everyone,” Ms Bayne said. “I was told they didn’t even know how to turn on a television set. They knew guns, hate, killing and destruction and nothing else. And they were just young.”
Phil Sweeney, also part of the delegation, at one stage rang his family to say goodbye. “I smashed my hotel window and it was too far to jump so I rang them all and said `hooray’ — I thought that was the end.”
Credit: John Stapleton
PEOPLE have begun arriving home with harrowing stories of their experiences in Mumbai, as the Government yesterday announced 85Australians in the area affected by the attacks had been confirmed safe.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed four Australians were listed as injured. They include Katie Anstee, 24, from Sydney, who remains in a Mumbai hospital after being shot through the thigh.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said there was the possibility that Australians unknown to the authorities were in the hotels. He said they would have to wait on the identification of the victims by Indian authorities.
DFAT said it had confirmed the death of Brett Taylor, 49, from Sydney, who was part of a NSW trade delegation. The family of Douglas Markell, 71, a businessman from Sydney, had advised the department he had been killed.
Debra Bayne, who was also part of the trade delegation, was trapped on the 19th floor of the Taj Hotel for more than 18 hours.
The Indian police finally blasted her and a colleague out of a room before escorting them past dead bodies and down 19 floors and outside.
“The terrorists shot everyone,” Ms Bayne said. “I was told they didn’t even know how to turn on a television set. They knew guns, hate, killing and destruction and nothing else. And they were just young.”
Phil Sweeney, also part of the delegation, at one stage rang his family to say goodbye. “I smashed my hotel window and it was too far to jump so I rang them all and said `hooray’ — I thought that was the end.”
Credit: John Stapleton