A senior figure in the Somali militant group al-Shabab has told the BBC it carried out a deadly attack on a shopping centre in neighbouring Kenya.
At least 39 people were killed and scores more injured as gunmen, armed with grenades, stormed an affluent Nairobi shopping centre yesterday. Bodies lined the floors and precincts of the Westgate Shopping Mall, while around 30 shoppers were reported as being held hostage during the attack which was said to have involved up to 10 men, some of whom looked as young as 18, according to witnesses.
Nairobi’s Police Chief, Benson Kibue, described the assault as a terrorist attack, and last night the Somalia-based group al-Shabaab was reported to have claimed responsibility. According to eye-witnesses, the gunmen told Muslims to leave the centre shortly before midday and said that non-Muslims would be targeted.
Some witnesses said the gunmen had 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.
The correspondent in Nairobi for the Economist, Daniel Howden told the BBC he spoke to one man with a Christian first name but a Muslim-sounding surname who managed to escape the attackers by putting his thumb over his first name on his ID.
However, the man told Mr Howden that an Indian man standing next to him who was asked for the name of the Prophet Muhammad’s mother was shot dead when he was unable to answer.
Grenade explosions and gunfire sent scores fleeing in panic from shops and restaurants on to the streets, according to witnesses and the Red Cross. Shooting continued hours after the initial assault as Kenyan troops surrounded the mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. A police officer inside the building said the gunmen were barricaded inside the Nakumatt supermarket, one of Kenya’s biggest chains.
Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto, promised last night that they would “end the siege and get to the bottom of the attack”. “We will bring to account the perpetrators and their accomplices,” he said. Kenya Police said on Twitter that they had detained one of the Westgate Mall suspects.
The Inspector General of Police, David Kimaiyo, said officers had rescued “quite a number” of hostages. He added that hostages were being screened as officers were “not taking any chances”.
Police initially said it was an attempted robbery but later acknowledged that as many as 10 terrorists were involved. Al-Shabaab vowed in 2011 to carry out a large-scale attack on Kenya in retaliation for Somali and Kenyan military operations against its insurgents. Its threatened targets included the shopping centre, which is popular with both affluent Kenyans and Western expats.
Yesterday’s attack, will be the biggest such attack in Kenya since al-Qa’ida bombed the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998, killing more than 200 people. In 2002, the same militant cell attacked an Israeli-owned hotel and tried to shoot down an Israeli jet in a co-ordinated attack in Mombasa.
The Parklands area, where the Westgate shopping square is located, lies about two miles north-west of Nairobi’s congested city centre.
Ten years ago, as property prices rose in the centre, developers looked for cheaper land. The result has been a rapid expansion of a once residential area into one where some of Nairobi’s most expensive and prestigious business headquarters and international banking offices are now situated.
The area enjoys a reputation among wealthy Kenyans for having the best restaurants and nightclubs. The new luxury five-star Sankara, one of the capital’s best hotels, is next to the Westgate shopping area, just off the capital’s main road.
The 350,000 square-foot mall, designed to the latest international retail standards, opened in 2007. According to its website visitors can enjoy tropical gardens, a waterfall and a palm garden, as well as a vast food court in a “safe and serene” environment.
Yesterday the shopping centre was playing host to the SunGold SunRice SuperChef Junior competition, an on-air cooking event for children, organised by East FM, a local radio station. Around 60 participants aged between eight and 13 years old had signed up for the competition, which was taking place outside in a tented area of the mall.
But by the afternoon it was lined with bodies, and reports surfaced that Ruhila Adatia, a well-known radio presenter attending the event, was among those shot. A spokeswoman for the station said yesterday Ms Adatia had been shot and injured at the mall, but was unable to confirm reports she was dead.
Satpal Singh, who was in a cafe on the mall’s top floor, said he ran downstairs when he heard the gunfire and was shot at near the mall’s main exit. “A Somali guy shot at me. The guy who shot me was carrying a rifle, an AK-47,” Mr Singh, 36, said.
Manish Turohit, 18, escaped from the shopping centre after hiding in the parking garage for two hours. He told reporters he saw gunmen with AK-47s and vests with hand grenades in the shopping centre.
The country has seen a rise in terror attacks and threats in recent years, often involving gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades. Their targets include bars, nightclubs and restaurants in various parts of the country.
In January a suspected al-Shabaab attack left five people dead and three injured at a restaurant in the eastern city of Garissa, and in August last year one person was killed and six injured in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi on the eve of a visit by Hillary Clinton, then the United States Secretary of State.
Rob Vandijk, who works at the Dutch embassy, said he was eating at a restaurant in the shopping centre when attackers threw hand grenades inside the building. He said gunfire then burst out and people screamed as they dropped to the ground.
One eyewitness, who identified himself as Taha, said he heard the screech of brakes followed moments later by an explosion and then sustained gunfire from the ground floor. Gunfire was still being exchanged almost two hours later as police combed the shopping centre and cordoned off the surrounding roads.
At least two dozen people, including several children, were wheeled out on stretchers and in shopping trolleys by security guards. Many of the victims had multiple light wounds, apparently from flying debris. Others walked out, some with bloodied clothing wrapped around wounds. Many of the victims were taken to Nairobi’s Aga Khan Hospital, which was one of a number of hospitals to appeal for blood donors to come forward last night.
Source:Independent.co.uk,BBC
What religion of peace preaches frequent mass murder? We stand with Kenyans against this evil acts and to hell with this religion of blowing people to pieces.
Condolences to all bereaved and get well soon to the injured.
What do you mean “WE”, talk of yourself.
How can I delete this article, heee you computer experts, get into that server and delete all such articles, whom are you promoting?
Sad moment for Africa. How inhumane, barbaric, cowardice.
Africa doesn’t deserve such in the 21st Century. Religion is indeed a bad thing as it is bent on segregating man. There is only one true God irrespective what nomenclature man tries to attach. Only one supreme God and his teachings are based on Love, not hatred. If HE loved man not, he wouldn’t have invented creation in the first place
Zambia, it’s about time our intelligence put a clamp on these Janjaweed, alshabab characters. Monitor Somalis nabashala, not being mean just planning ahead. Prayers for the families and children.
Muhammad was a prophet who preached that there is only one God who doesn’t beget and He was not begoten. and that one day mankind will face the Creator.
Through terrorising?
@says,
you have said nothing…
I think that a god under whose name this kind of dastardly acts are committed deserves no respect even from the lowest form of life…….such a god/God should be a dog!
Which dog? Dogs are friendly animals. And will never kill in the name of religion.
@Adornis,
do you mean dogs as in Ex 22: 31, 1Kings 22: 38 or Matt 15: 16?
We ought to be careful tarring all Muslims with one brush. Firstly im a non church going christian – before I get attacked for being Muslim
Fact: Not all Muslims are Killers, & there are lots of peace loving Muslims everywhere. Muslims have lived side by side christians in a peaceful co- existence for centuries, with some Muslim states in North Africa, offering sanctuary to persecuted people including Jews.
For those of You myopic enough, & too ignorant to realise, Christianity has also caused terror on innocent people. America in the past & present, has CHRISTIANS- who believe God only serves the White race, & would Not think twice in brutalising or murdering in cold blood- a person of colour. They also believe its “Gods will”
Slavery +Colonization of Africa = CHRISTIAN…
Continued; Slavery +Colonization = Christian Terrorism!!!
My Condolences go to the Kenyan people, & those who lost their loved ones. Now Kenya should go after these Savage perpetrators, & Crush them, but while emotions are running high, its important no innocent Somalian’s living in Kenya get tarred & persecuted. Remember Norwegian Anders Brevik, said he was acting in the interests of Christianity, but Not one christian was persecuted for his Wicked Psycopathy.
Were is the first part Kaleni am trying to follow your message.
LT???????????????????
its being moderated…..
its being moderated….
STOP THIS NONSENSE! WITHOUT ISLAM THIS WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER PLACE.LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY BOKO HALAM IN NIGERIA JUST LAST WEEK ,OVER 80 PEOPLE,WHAT ABOUT SOMALIS,PAKISTAN,AFGHANISTAN SYRIA,TUNISIA,EGYPT,YEMEN…CAN GO ON.CHRISTIANITY TEACHES LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF OR DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. WHAT TYPE OF CREATURES ARE YOU WHO TAKE PLEASURE IN SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD?
Iyee mayo,
kuntu walila…. so scary, no one is safe where is this world heading to? i remember last month not making it for a meeting in another town Leuven after a Boom was found on the trein, guys pray for some of us we live in the danger Zone especially these Syria, Russia ,America relatioship, God bless their souls and comfort their families, am always scared nowadays.
@cindy,
life is precious and only comes once.
why gamble with it.
just come back home and live in peace before you end up in pieces.
pure advice, no strings attached.
@ Mature,
I would within a second if i would be assured of a certain life, dont get me wrong am not materialistic… but then again iam to a certain level, that healthy materialistic…. you know what i mean, not that Zambia cant provide me with a luxury life i know she can, it’s not even about that, but then even if i wanted to i would, it’s just too late for me to settle back home, i dont know what am saying anyway, it’s more safe to live in Zambia than here i think, but aint death everywhere? when it’s time i guess it doesnt matter what or where one is though some places are more likely to attract death more than others and i believe depends how, arrrrrrrg…. what am i saying?
On a serious note, what has happenned in Kenya is very sad and i hope people can just be people not…
abena cindy you shouldnt be scared these things will come to pass
Christ said “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Fear only makes you panic and when you panic, you become violent, breeding more fear to those around you. Fret not thyself for He that keepeth your soul never sleeps nor slumbers.
Après l’attaque satanique de Nairobi et les attentats satanique en Irak en Nigeria aux chiens de satan Qaida Shabab Bokoharam Aqmi Bachar assed et Sissi de poser leurs armes et la fin d’israél aujourd’hui pour éviter la vengeance d’ALLAH par un astéroïde qui touche la terre après ces punitions d’ALLAH inondation en Colorado les ouragans Ingrid et Manuel et super typhon en Asie inondation et coronavirus en Arabie saoudite si la fin du monde aux non musulmans de convertir a l’islam pour éviter la peur l’enfer et ces chiens de satan a l’enfer
Ati carrying a patient, helping helping , is it helping to hold a woman’s butt. 5 strong guys holding a girl who has even fainted? Unless they don’t know who to lift a woman. Umulwele mwamutonyatonya…. ati we are rescuing.
Leka abalumendo bamwikate bwino umukashana, kabili na fenta. Elo ulya pakati limbi ni boyfriend wakwe, who knows? Awe blogging pa LT.. kuti waseka kwati naci wama mwe…
Lusaka times, what’s needing moderating with my first comment ? Second part hardly makes any sense without the first part. I despair that you are moderating what does Not need moderating. Censorship!!
Thanx – L.T. for finally seeing sense, practicing democratic principles, & un-censoring my comment. As anyone can see its was in NO WAY offensive.
Not being cynical but Zambian Government should watch out and control number of Somalians entering our country. Never know who comes with them. Not generalizing, there are good Somali People, but some have been a nonsense in Kenya leading to such barbaric attacks on innocent people. May the Lord bless the people of Kenya during these difficult times.
Re-posting part 1 as LT feel its offensive in some way.
We ought to be cautious tarring all Muslims with 1 brush. Firstly im a Non Church going christian – just in case.
Fact; Not all Muslims are killers & there are lots of peace loving Muslims everywhere Muslims have lived side by side Christians in a peaceful co- existence for centuries with some Muslim states in North Africa offering sanctuary to the persecuted including Jews.
For those Ignorant & too myopic to realise Christianity has also caused Terror on innocent folk. In the U.S.A past & present you still have”CHRISTIANS” who believe God only serves the White Race & would NOT think twice brutalising or murdering a person of colour in cold blood! They also believe “Its Gods will”
Slavery & Colonization of Africa =…
Slowly the Muslim extremists are infiltrating the continent. From North Africa to West and East Africa and soon it will be Southern Africa. Our Zambian intelligence must keep a watchful eye on the bad Islamic elements in the country instead of persecuting opposition leaders.
Slowly the Muslim extremists are infiltrating the continent. Nigeria is having trouble with Boko Haram, Mali with the insurgency, Somalia with the Al Shabaab and now they are wreaking havoc in neighboring Kenya, Tanzania is also having trouble with Muslims on Zanzibar Island. Soon it might be our country after all we harbor a sizable number of Somalians and Muslim people. The government and intelligence wings should be on the alert and keep a watchful eye on the bad Islamic elements in the country.
WHICH GOVT ARE YOU APPEALING TO?THE ONES WHO ARE BUSY PERSECUTING OPPOSITION PARTY PRESIDENTS?
AND WHICH POLICE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ?ARE THEY TRAINED IN COUNTER INSURGENCY?ONLY THE MUSHILI BOYS CAN SOUGHT OUT THE MESS.
The issue here is not about religious affiliation or fundamentalism, it is military intervention in other countries’ affairs. Kenyan govt has sent 4k troops in support of one faction in Somalia and fighting the other faction. It’s called blowback. It’s like Malawi sending troops to Zambia to support fighting the opposing faction to PF rule. Of cause the slaughter of innocent civilians in Kenya is saddening and should be condemned strongly. But we should not end there, the Islamic faction has on several occasions warned Kenya to stay out of Somalia. My humble and workable solution is, never intervene in other countries’ affairs but welcome and possibly help people fleeing persecution, its actually cheaper than intervening with force. The solution lies with the Somalis themselves
You people who’ve never been persecuted before should just shut up! What gives Alshabab the right to impose Sharia law? What gives any human the right to impose any religion on another human? If it takes outside intervention to prevent one assshoole from imposing some unfair doctrine on an innocent being then be it!
Muslims and their religion are very violent no matter how hard they try to dispute this fact. Most terrorist attacks are carried out by Muslims and they can not deny it. Every where in the world terrorist attacks, suicide bombers are done by our brothers the muslims in the name of their god Allah,why? They preach love but they do not practice what they teach. Zambians let us be careful with these fanatics who are fast spreading in our beloved country and taking advantage of the poor citizens by offering them small gifts to join their religion. Look at what is happening in Iraq, pakistan, North Africa and many other muslim nations including Nigeria. How can war be Holy (Jihad).Shame on you for killing innocent people.
I THINK THE GOVT SHOULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING AGAINST FOREIGNERS ENTERING OUR COUNTRY…I THINK THE IDEAL WITH MOVING WITH NRC WONT BE A BAD IDEAL ALSO THEY SHOULD SHELF ALL THE MIGRATION OFFICERS.BECAUSE THIS PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT IN TO MANY IMMIGRATES
My comment my dear country men, I am sick to the core of these Somalis, please start screening them, one by one, to my fellow Zambians please monitor these guys, most of them are our neighbors, please ensure that you see who has come to see them, anything out of the ordinary, report them. Now a warning to these Somalis in Zambia. We are offering you homes here Zambia after you ran away from your troubled nation scattering to all parts of world and we sending soldiers to country to help calm the situation there, if at all you bring your murderous cousins here, that’s the day will surly go back home the all lot of you, walking. Because everything you have is gained through humanitarian Aid. Let me hear booo and all hell breaks lose you just have to start walking back home.
nobody cares about zambia, so chill