"updated 31 minutes ago

MUMBAI, India - Indian security forces Friday assaulted a Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were believed holed up with possible hostages, with black-clad commandos dropping from a helicopter as sharpshooters opened fire on the five-story building.

Commandos also scoured two luxury hotels room-by-room for survivors and militants, more than a day after a series of terrorist attacks across India's financial center left at least 119 people dead.

The well-coordinated strikes by small bands of gunmen left India's financial center shell-shocked, but the sporadic gunfire and explosions at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels dwindled overnight Friday, indicating the siege might be winding down.

The prime minister blamed groups based outside the country for the brazen attacks, while an Indian newspaper reported that three of the militants confessed they are members of a Pakistani-based group.

At the headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch, a commando assault began shortly after dawn following a tense night in which six trucks of soldiers had been brought in to surround the building.

Snipers stationed in buildings opposite the center began the attack, with sustained fire on the building as at least nine commandos lowered themselves by rope onto the roof from a circling Indian air force helicopter.

Security forces searched room-by-room at the five-star hotels — top gathering spots for the Mumbai elite. Commandos had spent much of Thursday bringing out hostages, trapped guests and corpses in small groups. Firefighters put out blazes that erupted a day earlier at both hotels.

The carnage started Wednesday night when gunmen — at least some of whom arrived by sea — fanned out across Mumbai to attack several sites popular with tourists and businessmen. Police said 119 people were killed and 315 were wounded."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27940231/