KENYA: Sporadic gunfire continues at Nairobi mall, at least 15 dead

Record ID: 353944

  • Title: KENYA: Sporadic gunfire continues at Nairobi mall, at least 15 dead
  • Date: 21st September 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MALL WHERE SHOOTING IS TAKING PLACE WITH SIGN WRITTEN IN ENGLISH, READING: "WESTGATE SHOPPING MALL" WIDE OF MALL EXTERIOR WITH SPORADIC GUNSHOTS HEARD IN BACKGROUND MORE OF MALL EXTERIOR WITH ARMED POLICE STANDING ON ONE SIDE OF ROAD ARMED POLICEMAN LYING ON GROUND IN MIDDLE OF STREET WIDE OF MALL EXTERIOR CLOSE ON
  • Embargoed: 6th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA5D1S2OSZ77H8HSSTHHM198H6M
  • Story Text: At least 15 people were killed when gunmen attacked a shopping mall in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on Saturday (September 21) and more casualties were inside the complex, the Kenya Red Cross said.
    Police helicopters circled overhead as armed police shouted "get out, get out", and scores of shoppers fled the building. Smoke poured out of one entrance and witnesses said they heard grenade blasts.
    Others said they saw about five armed assailants storm the Westgate shopping mall and that the incident appeared to be an attack rather than an armed robbery.
    The Somali militant group al Shabaab has previously threatened to strike the Westgate mall that is popular with the city's expatriate community. It would have been packed on a Saturday morning.
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.
    One eyewitness who identified himself as Taha said he heard the screech of brakes followed moments later by an explosion and then sustained gun fire from the ground floor.
    Sporadic gun shots could be heard almost two hours after the shooting started as police combed the building.
    At least two dozen wounded were wheeled out on stretchers and shopping trolleys. Many of the victims had multiple light wounds, apparently from flying debris. Others walked out, some with bloodied clothing wrapped around wounds.
    Asked if the attack was a robbery, one paramilitary officer said: "No, terrorist". There has, though, been no official statement from the police regarding the attackers' motive.
    There was no immediate reaction from Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group.
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