“While I cannot give too many operational details, all I can tell you is that about 200 NSG personnel form part of this operation.”

Britain rushes contingent

The British Government has rushed a contingent of its Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) to the besieged metropolis. British High Commission sources said an RDT contingent, with a mandate to assist Britons involved in a serious overseas crisis, was now on its way to Mumbai. Since 2003, RDT teams have been deployed across the globe 21 times and were previously called in following bombings in Riyadh, Doha, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Marmaris and Bali. British diplomats said while till late evening, the exact number of British casualties or hostages was not known, the diplomatic response had been very swift. British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg arrived in Mumbai on Thursday morning and was joined by a team of diplomats and field staff from New Delhi. The RDT team, which has specialised training in evacuation and emergency operations, is expected to arrive in Mumbai late in the night.