(CNN) -- They were fathers and daughters, tycoons and spiritualists, Westerners and Asians, who were in Mumbai for different reasons. But they met the same fate in the indiscriminate path of gunfire and explosions in a string of terror attacks across the Indian city this week.



Kia Scherr, left, has told CNN that her husband, Alan Scherr, and daughter Naomi were killed in Mumbai.



At least 183 people were killed this week in attacks on several high-traffic landmarks, many of which tourists frequent. Their deaths have torn families and communities apart, and many more have yet to be confirmed.



Small snapshots of the victims have begun to emerge, most of them pertaining to foreigners. Limited reports have circulated about victims from India.



A father and daughter from a Virginia meditation group were among five Americans confirmed dead, the U.S. State Department said Friday.



Kia Scherr told CNN on Friday that her husband, Alan, 58, and daughter, Naomi, 13, were killed.



She said she knew her husband and daughter were dining at the Oberoi, a Mumbai hotel, when gunfire broke out Wednesday night. Scherr said she last spoke to them Thursday.  Watch friends tell the story of the Scherrs' visit to Mumbai »



The father and daughter had been in India since November 17 and were due to leave Monday, Scherr said.



A spokeswoman for The Synchronicity Foundation, a meditation group based near Charlottesville, Virginia, said the two were among 25 members of the group who were visiting India.



The other Synchronicity people who were staying at the Oberoi "are accounted for and safe," the group's Web site said.



Hemant Karkare, Anti-Terrorism Squad chief for Maharashtra state, was among at least 16 members of Indian law enforcement officers killed in the attacks. Mumbai is in Maharashtra.



Karkare was leading an offensive against gunmen late Wednesday when he was shot three times in the chest, CNN sister network CNN-IBN reported.



Karkare, who joined the Indian Police Service in 1982, became ATS chief in January after spending seven years in Austria at the Research and Analysis Wing, Indian's external foreign intelligence agency, according to CNN-IBN.



Five hostages, including a rabbi and his wife, were killed in a standoff at the Chabad House, said Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, a spokesman for Chabad-Lubavitch International in the United States.  Watch: Rabbi and wife killed in Mumbai »



Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, the city's envoy for the community, and his wife, Rivka, had been held hostage at the Chabad House, known as the Nariman House in Mumbai. The building houses the Mumbai headquarters of the Chabad community, a Hasidic Jewish movement.



Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, was born in Israel and moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his parents when he was 9. Rivka, 28, was a native of Afula, Israel, the organization said.  Watch the Chabad community in New York react »



The Holtzbergs arrived in Mumbai in 2003 to serve the Jewish community there, Chabad-Lubavitch International said.



"As emissaries to Mumbai, Gabi and Rivky gave up the comforts of the West in order to spread Jewish pride in a corner of the world that was a frequent stop for throngs of Israeli tourists," said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, in a statement.



Gavriel Holtzberg made a phone call to the Israeli Consulate to report that gunmen were in his house, the organization said.



"In the middle of the conversation, the line went dead," the organization said. It did not say when the phone call took place.



A cook at the center, who had barricaded herself in a room, grabbed the couple's son and escaped with another person, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.



The boy's 2nd birthday is Saturday, said Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of the Educational and Social Services arms of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement.



"Today, he became an orphan," Krinsky said at a news conference in
( CNN ) -- They were fathers and daughters , tycoons and spiritualists , Westerners and Asians , who were in Mumbai for different reasons . But they met the same fate in the indiscriminate path of gunfire and explosions in a string of terror attacks across the Indian city this week . Kia Scherr , left , has told CNN that her husband , Alan Scherr , and daughter Naomi were killed in Mumbai . At least 183 people were killed this week in attacks on several high - traffic landmarks , many of which tourists frequent . Their deaths have torn families and communities apart , and many more have yet to be confirmed . Small snapshots of the victims have begun to emerge , most of them pertaining to foreigners . Limited reports have circulated about victims from India . A father and daughter from a Virginia meditation group were among five Americans confirmed dead , the U.S. State Department said Friday . Kia Scherr told CNN on Friday that her husband , Alan , 58 , and daughter , Naomi , 13 , were killed . She said she knew her husband and daughter were dining at the Oberoi , a Mumbai hotel , when gunfire broke out Wednesday night . Scherr said she last spoke to them Thursday . Watch friends tell the story of the Scherrs ' visit to Mumbai » The father and daughter had been in India since November 17 and were due to leave Monday , Scherr said . A spokeswoman for The Synchronicity Foundation , a meditation group based near Charlottesville , Virginia , said the two were among 25 members of the group who were visiting India . The other Synchronicity people who were staying at the Oberoi " are accounted for and safe , " the group 's Web site said . Hemant Karkare , Anti - Terrorism Squad chief for Maharashtra state , was among at least 16 members of Indian law enforcement officers killed in the attacks . Mumbai is in Maharashtra . Karkare was leading an offensive against gunmen late Wednesday when he was shot three times in the chest , CNN sister network CNN - IBN reported . Karkare , who joined the Indian Police Service in 1982 , became ATS chief in January after spending seven years in Austria at the Research and Analysis Wing , Indian 's external foreign intelligence agency , according to CNN - IBN . Five hostages , including a rabbi and his wife , were killed in a standoff at the Chabad House , said Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin , a spokesman for Chabad - Lubavitch International in the United States . Watch : Rabbi and wife killed in Mumbai » Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg , the city 's envoy for the community , and his wife , Rivka , had been held hostage at the Chabad House , known as the Nariman House in Mumbai . The building houses the Mumbai headquarters of the Chabad community , a Hasidic Jewish movement . Gavriel Holtzberg , 29 , was born in Israel and moved to Brooklyn , New York , with his parents when he was 9 . Rivka , 28 , was a native of Afula , Israel , the organization said . Watch the Chabad community in New York react » The Holtzbergs arrived in Mumbai in 2003 to serve the Jewish community there , Chabad - Lubavitch International said . " As emissaries to Mumbai , Gabi and Rivky gave up the comforts of the West in order to spread Jewish pride in a corner of the world that was a frequent stop for throngs of Israeli tourists , " said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky , vice chairman of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch , the educational arm of Chabad - Lubavitch , in a statement . Gavriel Holtzberg made a phone call to the Israeli Consulate to report that gunmen were in his house , the organization said . " In the middle of the conversation , the line went dead , " the organization said . It did not say when the phone call took place . A cook at the center , who had barricaded herself in a room , grabbed the couple 's son and escaped with another person , the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported . The boy 's 2nd birthday is Saturday , said Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky , chairman of the Educational and Social Services arms of the Chabad - Lubavitch Movement . " Today , he became an orphan , " Krinsky said at a news conference in
Where was the squad chief killed?
Where was the squad chief killed ?
Mumbai
Mumbai