Field Fisher partner trapped by Mumbai terror attack
Gunmen, armed with AK47 assault rifles and hand grenades, struck at various sites across the city last night, killing more than 100 people and taking others hostage.
Abell described his situation on the BBC's Today programme this morning, saying he had returned to his hotel after dinner last night and went immediately to his room.
He added: "As I entered my room there was a massive blast and the whole room shook. I thought the windows were going to break. I looked out and I could see people scattering down on the ground and then a couple of minutes later another large blast occurred followed by gunfire."
Abell said he could hear gunfire coming from outside his room after the initial attack: "I could hear several rounds of gunfire and people running up and down."
A spokesperson for FFW confirmed that Abell was in Mumbai but declined to comment further saying: "What we're trying to do is establish what the situation is."
Readers' comments (11)
NonnyMus | 27-Nov-2008 2:59 pm
!!!
Why is this being advertised?! Do they want the terrorist to knock on his door and hunt him down?!
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Anon. | 27-Nov-2008 3:07 pm
Last comment
I have a feeling that what with all that's going on, those teenage terrorists might be a little too busy to read legal news on their Blackberries.
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Anon | 27-Nov-2008 3:40 pm
Legal News?
The BBC's Today programme is hardly legal news, unless you think otherwise.
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Anonymous | 27-Nov-2008 4:43 pm
Shameless
I thought the blatant FFW name dropping during the interview was shocking "Yes, FFW do a lot of work in India!!" But if that's the way you have to sell yourself, so be it.
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think different | 27-Nov-2008 8:29 pm
@Anonymous
Don't be silly please, Mark Abell is now having extremely tuff times there, still being locked in his room (21:26 CET). He probably mentioned FFW just because he was on business trip there for his firm. Be decent.
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Anonymous | 28-Nov-2008 8:03 am
No surprise
Why am I not surprised by the shameless self-promotion at a time when so many people were suffering?
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Anonymous | 28-Nov-2008 10:32 am
Field Fisher partner trapped by Mumbai terror attack
He is now out of the hotel.
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Anonymous | 28-Nov-2008 10:39 am
FFW
So what firm does Mark Abell work for exactly?! It's a joke that someone who is in a life or death situation would take the opportunity to try to win some work for FFW!
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Anonymous | 28-Nov-2008 12:49 pm
Embarrassed to be a lawyer
What an embarrassment to the legal profession this guy is. I am a former City solicitor working in house; i don't read the Lawyer these days and i don't normally go on comment boards. But the namedropping of his firm through the Today interview takes the biscuit and has driven me to this site to comment; no wonder people think lawyers are tw*ts. What an inappropriate time to try and promote one's third division law firm.
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Anonymous | 28-Nov-2008 1:17 pm
Sad
I was sad to read the lack of sympathy presumably fellow lawyers for someone in such extreme dange, braving a horrific and completely unexpected encounter of terrorism.
I think he has been extremely brave and shown high character in daring to report to the news whilst he was barrackaded in his room so that we could know what was happening in Mumbai.
I think he is an example to others of how a lawyer being able to handle a horrific situation very well. I think we should be inspired by the courage and spirit that he has demonstrated.
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Anonymous | 29-Nov-2008 11:08 am
Also embarassed to be a lawyer!
In response to the comment "sad", I do not think the lawyers who have commented here have shown a lack of sympathy at all. I don't think I would be able to cope if I was in a similar situation to Mark Abell. However, I am pretty sure I would not be thinking 'oh I better make sure I say the words "Field Fisher Waterhouse" 50 times in my interview'.
I have seen a few interviews with Mr Abell since he was released and every interview makes clear that he is a partner with FFW. Now as an example if a doctor who works for Great Ormond St Hospital was caught up in this mess I somehow doubt that he would be saying over and over again 'By the way, I work for Great Ormond St Hospital'.
P.s. I am a former employee of FFW and actually liked Mark as a person.
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