US consulate in Mumbai reopens

US citizens in Mumbai were urged to be vigilant

The US consulate in India's financial capital, Mumbai (Bombay), has reopened after a day's closure that followed threats of a possible terrorist attack.

Security remained tight around the building on Wednesday.

Police cordoned off the consulate on Tuesday after a tip-off from the FBI of possible attacks on Tuesday or Wednesday in Delhi or Mumbai.

However, the home minister in Mumbai's state of Maharashtra said he believed the information was inaccurate.

'Appropriate steps'

Five people died in an attack on the US consulate in Calcutta in 2002.

The US State Department said on Monday that "terrorists may be planning attacks on US interests in India in the near future".

It said: "Although not specific, the information suggests that an attack could be aimed at US interests in the cities of Delhi or Mumbai."

US embassy spokesman, David Kennedy, said: "American citizens in Mumbai consular areas [should] maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase security. We take the threat seriously enough."

However, Maharashtra home minister RR Patil said: "Our investigations have revealed that the threat information received by the United States regarding attacks on its offices in India was incorrect."