KENYA: Kenyan soldiers surround a shopping mall in the capital Nairobi where earlier gunfire was heard as al Shabaab militants hold an unknown number of hostages for the third day

Record ID: 353953

  • Title: KENYA: Kenyan soldiers surround a shopping mall in the capital Nairobi where earlier gunfire was heard as al Shabaab militants hold an unknown number of hostages for the third day
  • Date: 23rd September 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WESTGATE MALL /SOUND OF GUNFIRE SECURITY OFFICERS ON THE GROUND SOLDIERS PATROLLING INSIDE THE MALL SOLDIERS PATROLLING PARKING LOT MORE PATROLLING VARIOUS OF MALL/ SOLDIERS PATROLLING VARIOUS OF MILITARY HELICOPTER HOVERING
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Reuters ID: LVABB9F2OIJAQOGRC4WM3K5IUF9N
  • Story Text: Gunfire and explosions sounded on Monday (September 23) from the Nairobi mall where militants from Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group threatened to kill hostages on the third day of a raid in which at least 68 have already died.
    There were several eruptions of gunfire coming from inside Nairobi's Westgate mall since daybreak on Monday morning, after a largely quiet night. Some of the shots were heard coming from outside of the shopping centre.
    There is no indication yet of the fate of people whom the authorities had said on Sunday (September 22) were being held by 10 to 15 gunmen - and possibly women - inside a large supermarket.
    An al Shabaab spokesman warned that the Islamists would kill hostages if Kenyan security forces, who are being assisted by Western and Israeli experts, tried to storm their position.
    Security forces had secured most of the complex by Sunday, freeing many people who had hidden in terror. Though they hoped for a quick solution, rescuing those held will be difficult.
    Survivors' tales of Saturday's military-style, lunchtime assault by squads of attackers hurling grenades and spraying automatic fire, has left little doubt the hostage-takers are willing to kill. Previous such raids around the world suggest they may also be ready to die with their captives.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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