Mumbai Attacks Over, Heroic Stories Emerge

The Mumbai attacks which ended over the weekend killed 174 people and left hundreds more injured. The eyewitness accounts sounded absolutely dreadful and as a parent there were a few that really got to me.

On Friday we brought the news of 2-year-old Moishe Holtzberg (pictured) who was being held hostage in a Jewish centre in the Indian city.

As India and the world reeled in shock at the terrorist assault, Moishe became a symbol of hope, when his 44-year-old Indian nanny rescued him and fled the besieged building.

Tragically, his 29-year-old father, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, and his 28-year-old mother, Rivka, were among five hostages found murdered at Nariman House, a Jewish outreach centre yesterday, when Indian commandos invaded the building.

Meanwhile, an Italian chef braved armed militants at a Mumbai hotel to bring milk to his wife and infant daughter who were trapped during the siege.

As recounted at news.com.au,

Emanuele Lattanzi told RAI state television he was working in the kitchen of the Oberoi Hotel when gunman stormed the building. Restaurant staff were immediately evacuated through an emergency exit.

Once outside, however, Mr Lattanzi realised his wife Lea and six-month-old daughter Clarice were trapped, asleep in their room.

As the siege of the hotel continued for two days, Mr Lattanzi received frantic text messages from his wife, who said she had no more milk to feed the child, AP reported. The cook pleaded to be let into the hotel with some powdered milk.

“They let me in (on Friday) morning, covered by these soldiers,” Mr Lattanzi told RAI. “They escorted me to the door of the child’s room.”

Mr Lattanzi stayed in the room with his wife and child until authorities had killed the last of the gunman. He then walked out, cradling Clarice in his arms.

Both mother and child were uninjured.

Also trapped at the Hotel Oberoi was Sydney dad David Jacobs. The lawyer relied on his Blackberry organiser to stay in touch with his wife, son, and security forces.

Mr Jacobs, 58, who was in Mumbai on business for his firm, barricaded himself in his room, pushing heavy furniture against the door before turning the lights off and hiding in the closet.

He lived on mini-bar food and kept his spirits up by making lots of “unfunny dad jokes” in his emails, according to son Adam, 26. Mr Jacobs has since been released and has revealed his email log during the attacks.

We hope and pray for the missing Australians and other nationals caught up in this tragedy.