Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) At least 12 policemen were injured when unidentified criminals opened fire at security forces at three different locations in this commercial capital of India Wednesday night, officials said.The first incident took place at between 10.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. when bullets, apparently from automatic weapons, were fired at police and paramilitary forces outside the Taj Mahal Hotel in south Mumbai.

Police officials, who refused to speak on record because it was too early to confirm anything, said at least two rounds were fired near the luxurious hotel.

Minutes later, bullets were fired near Hotel Trident - another five-star hotel - barely a kilometre away from the Taj. Trident is in a high security zone and lies just behind Air India and Maharashtra legislature buildings.

Unidentified persons also opened random firing near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, headquarters of the Central Railway, which is a world heritage building and remains crowded almost throughout the day.

The police officials refused to confirm if it was a terrorist attack or a gang war, but said apparently automatic rifles were used in the attacks. They didn’t rule out the use of AK rifles.