Shootings at Nairobi shopping mall Kenya

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Nairobi Mall Shooting:

Terrified shoppers, including one reported New Zealander, huddled in back hallways and prayed the militant gunmen lobbing grenades and firing assault rifles inside Nairobi's top mall would not find them.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/image.cfm?c_id=2&gal_cid=2&gallery_id=138002#12484757

 

 

Kiwi hurt in Kenya siege:

Kenyan security forces are locked in a standoff with gunmen who killed at least 39 people at an upmarket shopping mall in the Kenyan capital, and it is still unclear how many hostages the al Qaeda-linked militants are holding.

 

A New Zealander is among 150 wounded.

 

Gunmen stormed the Westgate mall in the capital Nairobi on Saturday (local time). They killed a number of people, including close relatives of Kenya's president and children, in an attack claimed by the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab.

 

In Wellington, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a New Zealand was injured in the attack and was now in a stable condition in hospital.

 

The ministry would not name the person but said the New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria was providing consular assistance and is in contact with next of kin.

 

No other New Zealanders were known to be caught up in the attack.

 

There were 123 New Zealanders registered on http://www.safetravel.govt.nz as being in Kenya.

 

The Ministry said New Zealanders in Nairobi were advised to be particularly security conscious at this time, follow any instructions issued by the local authorities, avoid the vicinity of the Westgate shopping mall and keep family in New Zealand informed of their well-being. New Zealanders with concerns for the well-being of family in Nairobi were advised to make direct contact in the first instance and if they had on-going concerns to contact the ministry on 64-4-39 8000.

 

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said more than 39 people had been killed, among them close members of his own family. A senior government official said on his Twitter feed that more than 300 people had been wounded. The dead included children and the wounded ranged in age from two to 78.

 

France said two of its citizens were dead and Canada said two Canadians had died, including a diplomat. The US State Department said it had reports that American citizens had been hurt, and Britain said its nationals had undoubtedly been affected.

 

Police said the stand-off was focused around the Nakumatt supermarket, one of Kenya's biggest chains, where the attackers were said to be holding hostages.

 

Kenyatta said the security forces were engaged in a "delicate operation" with the top priority being to safeguard the lives of people caught up in the incident, but it was unclear how many were still trapped inside the building.

 

Al Shabaab, which has links to al Qaeda and is battling Kenyan and other African peacekeepers in Somalia, had repeatedly threatened attacks on Kenyan soil if Nairobi did not pull its troops out of the Horn of Africa country.

 

The raid presents Kenyatta with his first major security challenge since a March election victory. Kenyatta has vowed to defeat the militants who have said it is time to shift the war to Kenyan soil.

 

"We have overcome terrorist attacks before," he said.

 

The mall assault has been the biggest single attack in Kenya since al Qaeda's east Africa cell bombed the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998, killing more than 200 people. In 2002, the same militant cell attacked an Israeli-owned hotel at the coast and tried to shoot down an Israeli jet in a co-ordinated attack.

 

The major attack on an iconic mall that draws tourists, expatriates and Kenya's wealthy elite like a magnet risks hammering an already struggling tourism sector and could puncture Kenyatta's plans to boost east Africa's biggest economy's reputation as a sound investment destination.

 

Al Shabaab's last big attack outside Somalia was a twin attack in neighbouring Uganda, targeting people watching the World Cup final on television in Kampala in June 2010.

 

Kenya sent its troops into Somalia in October 2011 to pursue the militants it blamed for kidnapping tourists and attacking its security forces.

 

HOSTAGES

 

Relatives of hostages thought still to be trapped inside the Westgate mall were keeping vigil in a nearby Hindu centre, waiting for the next move by the security forces.

 

Kevin Jamal said his sister was taken hostage while shopping at the mall, and he had been waiting for more than six hours.

 

"I want her to come out alive," Jamal told Reuters as he joined Kenya Red Cross Society volunteers for a meal of hot curry and chips served by the centre.

 

He said the Kenyan security agencies could have done better, saying "they should not allow themselves to be outmanoeuvred by less than 20 people."

 

Police say it is not clear how many attackers they are dealing with, and those rescued said at least one of the attackers was a woman. One of the attackers had been shot and arrested, but died shortly afterwards at a hospital.

 

A fierce gun battle erupted between the police and the militants after Saturday's initial assault. The shooting continued hours after the first attack and soldiers then managed to enter the building, hunting for the attackers shop by shop.

 

Witnesses said the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and wore ammunition belts.

 

There was a lull in activity in the hours after midnight. Troops were milling around at the mall, near two armoured personnel carriers and two big fire trucks, one with a long, extendable ladder.

 

Music was still playing and a video screen was on at a gourmet burger shop. Journalists and curious bystanders were moved out of the mall onto a side road.

 

Al Shabaab appeared to taunt the security forces, saying on its official Twitter handle HSM-Press that there would be no negotiations whatsoever with Kenyan officials over the standoff.

 

"10 hours have passed and the Mujahideen are still strong inside Mall and still holding their ground. All praise is due to Allah!", the group said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/9195166/Kiwi-hurt-in-Kenya-siege

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Nairobi attack: Hostages remain inside shopping centre

 

 

Nairobi attack: Hostages remain inside shopping centre

 

An unknown number of hostages are being held in a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, after a deadly assault by suspected al-Shabab militants. At least 39 people died when members of the Somali Islamist group stormed the Westgate centre on Saturday.

 

There is now a heavy military presence in and around the centre - including armoured vehicles - and gunfire can be heard from inside the building. There are reports that the gunmen are now holed up in a supermarket. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier vowed to "hunt down the perpetrators wherever they run to".

 

Al-Shabab told the BBC it carried out the attack on the upmarket shopping centre in response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia. There are about 4,000 Kenyan troops in the south of Somalia, where they have been fighting the militants since 2011.

 

Kenyan officials said "major operations" were under way with police and soldiers preparing an apparent bid to bring an end to the stand-off. They said the security forces had finally "pinned down" the surviving gunmen. "The work is continuing, but you cannot rush these things," an army officer posted on the perimeter cordon set up around the mall told the AFP news agency. Our teams are there, we are watching and monitoring, we will finish this as soon as we can."

 

Al-Shabab has claimed there are at least 36 hostages, but this cannot be independently confirmed and there are also likely to be people hiding away from the attackers. The authorities have asked journalists to exercise caution when reporting military developments because the gunmen might be monitoring the media. "Hostiles suspected to have access to the internet," the Disaster Operation Centre in Nairobi posted on Twitter. "Reports on personnel movement and progress will not be posted for fear of compromising strategy."

 

"The gunmen have been contained in one location, but there are hostages elsewhere in the vicinity who cannot access the exit".

 

Upper levels of the mall had been secured, it said. The attack began at about 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Saturday, when the attackers entered the Westgate centre throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. A children's day event was being held at the time - children are among those reported killed.

 

Some witnesses said the militants told Muslims to leave and said non-Muslims would be targeted. "They came and said: 'If you are Muslim, stand up. We've come to rescue you'," said Elijah Lamau.

 

He said the Muslims left with their hands up, and then the gunmen shot two people. Scores of people fled or were evacuated while police and armed security guards fought running gun battles with the militants throughout the mall for hours.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24193059

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Three Britons among Kenya shopping mall attack dead

 

 

Three Britons among Kenya shopping mall attack dead

 

Three British nationals were killed in Saturday's attack on a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the Foreign Office has said.

 

And it said that number is "likely to rise as further information becomes available".

 

At least 59 people were killed and 175 injured in the attack, the Kenyan interior minister has said.

 

Between 10 to 15 attackers and an unknown number of civilians are still in the building.

 

The next of kin of the dead British nationals have been informed, the Foreign Office said.

 

Prime Minister David Cameron called the attack "an absolutely sickening and despicable attack of appalling brutality".

 

The Somali militant group al-Shabab says it carried out the attack on the upmarket Westgate shopping centre in response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24195825

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[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGYk6PQ0CSk]Kenya Mall Attack: Kenyan Forces Take Control of Mall, Search for Terrorists - YouTube[/ame]

 

Nairobi attack: Kenya forces 'end' Westgate mall siege

 

The four-day siege involving suspected Islamist militants at Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre is over, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta says.

 

Five attackers were shot dead by troops and 11 suspects are in custody, he said in a televised address to the nation. Kenya has "shamed and defeated our attackers" but the "losses are immense", he said, confirming that 61 civilians and six soldiers had died.

 

Three days of national mourning have been declared starting on Wednesday. President Kenyatta said that several bodies lying under rubble from collapsed parts of the building were still to be recovered. Some 62 people remain in hospital. Many others are being treated for shock and are undergoing counselling.

 

"I promise that we shall have a full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone as a national family. These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices and patrons, wherever they are," he said.

 

Militants stormed the Westgate centre on Saturday, throwing grenades and firing on shoppers and staff. Somali Islamist group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan army operations in Somalia. The president said he could not confirm reports that a British national and two or three US citizens were involved in the attacks, but he said forensic experts were carrying out tests to ascertain their nationalities.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24225319

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Interpol seeks UK woman Samantha Lewthwaite's arrest

 

 

Interpol seeks UK woman Samantha Lewthwaite's arrest

 

International police body Interpol has issued a wanted persons notice for Briton Samantha Lewthwaite, at Kenya's request.

 

Ms Lewthwaite is the widow of one of the four suicide bombers who attacked London on 7 July 2005. Known colloquially as the "white widow", she has been linked with Somali militant Islamist group al-Shabab. The group was behind the attack on the Westgate shopping complex in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, at the weekend.

 

The assault and subsequent four-day siege left at least 67 people dead. An Interpol statement said the 29-year-old was "wanted by Kenya on charges of being in possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony dating back to December 2011".

 

The Interpol alert, known as a "Red Notice", requires member countries to detain the suspect pending extradition procedures. Interpol did not link the warrant to the Nairobi attack, but it comes after much speculation linking Ms Lewthwaite to events at the Westgate complex.

 

Kenya is continuing three days of official mourning for both the civilian and military victims of the siege. The funeral of pregnant television and radio star Ruhila Adatia-Sood was one of many being held on Thursday.

 

Flags are flying at half mast amid visibly tighter security around the Kenyan capital. Security guards were scanning passengers with metal detectors before they boarded buses.

 

Amid rising concern among Kenyans over the authorities' preparedness for such an attack, reports are emerging that the country's counter-terrorism strategy and its disaster response co-ordination will now be reviewed.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24288236