French couple killed in exchange of fire

Friday 28 November 2008

Loumia Hiridjee, founder of a French lingerie line, and her husband Mourad Amarsy were among the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks, the company's president has announced. The highly coordinated attacks left over 170 people dead.

The founder of a French lingerie line and her husband were among the victims of this week's attacks in Mumbai, the company's president said Friday.
   
Loumia Hiridjee, creator of the Princess Tam Tam brand, and her husband Mourad Amarsy, both French nationals, were found dead in Mumbai, said Roland de Farcy, president of the group.
   
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner earlier issued a statement confirming that two French nationals had died in the attacks. A diplomatic source separately said the couple were killed during an exchange of gunfire.
   
Kouchner expressed condolences to the families and renewed France's support to Indian leaders as New Delhi confronted the Islamic militants who attacked two luxury hotels and other targets in Mumbai.
   
"The terrorists have attacked the world's biggest democracy. All of the world's democrats are at their side," Kouchner said.
   
Indian forces were battling the Islamist insurgents who launched the coordinated attacks late Wednesday, leaving more than 130 people dead.
   
Among the foreigners killed were nationals from Germany, Japan, Canada, Australia and the United States.
   
Kouchner earlier said that around 20 French nationals and an Air France crew trapped at the five-star Oberoi/Trident hotel had been rescued, but that there could still be others in need of help.
   
President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday condemned the attacks as "cowardly and hateful terrorist acts" and said France was ready to deepen security cooperation with India.