London, November 27, 2008 (IANS)

British anti-terrorism experts are flying out to India to help the Indian government in investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday. Brown spoke after the country's main security group, Cobra, held two crisis meetings Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the response to the Mumbai attacks. Brown said Britain's primary responsibility at the moment was to ensure the protection of Britons who may have been caught up in the attacks but that over and beyond that India and Britain would continue working closely with other countries to confront terrorism.

“The world has to come together to find these terrorist groups. Our group of police and security officials are going out there,” Brown said. The British team, he added, was “well versed” in counter-terrorism. He said a crisis centre set up at the foreign office to help friends and family of Britons in Mumbai had received 800 calls so far Thursday.

Meanwhile, The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today expressed his sympathy and condolences to the people of Mumbai and those affected by the terrorist attacks on the city. He has also written to Vilasrao Desmukh, the Chief Minister of the Maharashtra State Government.

The Mayor said today:'Our thoughts are with the people of Mumbai and everyone affected by the dreadful and indiscriminate attacks on the city. I am shocked and saddened such violence and terror, which cannot be tolerated anywhere, at any time.

'London has a large Indian population and historic ties to that wonderful country and I wish to offer our city's sympathy and support at this difficult moment.

'I know that the city of Mumbai will not be deflected from its course by indiscriminate terror and would like to reiterate the offer by the Metropolitan Police of their unrivalled expertise following the attacks.'

The Mayor has spoken to Rohit Manchanda, the London representative in Mumbai, to find out how he and his team have been affected. Mr Manchanda was able to reassure the Mayor that he and the team are safe and well.

The Mayor is also writing to the High Commissioner of India to the UK and the British High Commissioner in India to offer his full support and services