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Kenya: At least 20 killed in suspected terrorist attack in Nairobi mall
Nairobi’s Westgate Mall. PHOTO/Westgate Premier Mall Inc.
(Reuters) – Gunmen stormed a shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday killing at least 20 people in what Kenya’s government said could be a terrorist attack, and sending scores fleeing into shops, a cinema and onto the streets in search of safety.
Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started as anti-terrorist police surrounded the mall and combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.
The Somali militant group al-Shabaab, which Kenya blames for shootings, bombings and grenade attacks against churches and the security forces, had threatened before to strike the upscale Westgate mall. The chain of attacks follows action by Kenyan forces against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia two years ago.
Police helicopters circled above the mall as armed police shouted “get out! get out!” and scores of shoppers fled the building. Smoke poured out of one entrance of the high and witnesses said they heard grenade blasts.
Others said they saw about five armed assailants storm the beige stone Westgate shopping mall and that the incident appeared to be a terrorist attack.
Kenya’s Ministry of Interior said: “It is a possibility that it is an attack by terrorists, so we are treating the matter very seriously.”
Asked if foreign security services were involved in the operation to flush out the attackers, he said, “At this stage it has not become necessary yet.”
