Attackers were looking for British, Americans, says witness

MUMBAI/LONDON: British national Alex Chamberlain, who works for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai, was in a restaurant at the Oberoi hotel when he heard gunfire, and barely managed to escape.

When the terrorists stormed the building, he and a group of people rushed into the kitchen, Chamberlain told Sky News, adding that one of the waiters was shot in the arm.

"They were talking about Britons and Americans specifically. They shot people completely unnecessarily," he said.

The group of about 30-40 people then "marched up like sheep" by a "young guy with a sub-machine gun, who was about 22-23".

The gunman then told people to stop and asked them to put their hands up. The attacker asked if any of the people were British or Americans.

Chamberlain said: "My Indian friend told me 'don't be a hero' and tell him you're Italian and that kind of stuff'."

Chamberlain said he got to about the 18th floor of the hotel and there was a gunman below them, and there were gunshots above and smoke everywhere.

The Briton and another person managed to sneak out of a fire door "without the gunman seeing us", where they stayed for about 15 minutes.