Many of the Jewish hostages held by Islamic terrorists are understood to have been released from the Chabad House in Mumbai.

Israeli TV had reported that one of the hostages was forced at gunpoint to call the Israeli embassy in New Delhi with the captors' demand for the release of Islamic terrorists from Indian jails.

Full details are unclear. But among the hostages taken early on Thursday morning was rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka.

Terrorists raided the offices in Hormusji Street after a day of unrest in the city. Indian special forces killed one of the gunmen but four others managed to barricade themselves inside.