‘British attacker’ revealed as Kenya forces sweep Nairobi mall
Kenyan security forces have surrounded the Westgate centre as they try to secure the site as it’s revealed that one attacker may have been British.
11:48 24 September 2013
In the latest update on besieged Nairobi mall, it has been confirmed by Kenyan officials that 10 people have been arrested and three terrorists had been killed.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry said that it believed all hostages had been released. However, a Kenyan officer on the scene said that there could still be two-three attackers left in the building.
Kenyan security forces are now on their feet surrounding and combing the Westgate centre to secure the site.
In a shocking development, Kenya’s foreign minister Amina Mohamed has confirmed that a British woman who “has done this many times before” was involved in the attack alongside at least two Americans.
69 people are confirmed dead. Among them are at least 18 foreigners including six British nationals as well as citizens from Canada, France, Australia, Netherlands, Peru, India, China, and South Africa. The death toll is expected to rise as Kenyan Red Cross had told BBC that there are still 63 people that are unaccounted for.
The Somali Islamist al-Shabab movement admitted to be behind the attack in retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia.
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Below article originally published September 23rd
Gun fire, black smoke at besieged Nairobi Mall
A series of heavy gunfire and loud explosions were heard at besieged Nairobi mall on Monday as black smoke surged from the upscale Westgate shopping complex. As of this writing, there are sixty-nine confirmed dead and 170 injured since Saturday afternoon when the attack had begun. It is believed that 10-15 attackers are still inside the shopping mall holding at least 10 hostages.
Reporters at the scene said that there were explosions and heavy gunfire as black smoke surged from the complex.
On Monday, the International Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto. He is facing charges relating to violence following 2007 elections. He will be excused from the trial for a week to return to Nairobi and help deal with the crisis.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a news conference on Sunday that the criminals were located in one place within the building. He added: "With the professionals on site, we have as good a chance to neutralise the terrorists as we could hope for.”
The president has confirmed that his nephew and the man’s fiancé were among the dead. Meanwhile, three British nationals were also confirmed dead. The UK foreign Office warns that the number is likely to rise.