KENYA: Several blasts heard and thick smoke seen at Kenyan shopping mall where al Shabaab militants have been holding hostages

Record ID: 353981

  • Title: KENYA: Several blasts heard and thick smoke seen at Kenyan shopping mall where al Shabaab militants have been holding hostages
  • Date: 23rd September 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) POLICE TAKING COVER, AUDIO OF EXPLOSIONS IN BACKGROUND POLICE LOOKING AT SMOULDERING BUILDING, MORE OF POLICE LOOKING AT BUILDING SMOULDERING ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER (APC) DRIVING VARIOUS POLICE TAKING COVER IN THE BUSHES VARIOUS OF SMOULDERNING BUILDING, AUDIO OF EXPLOSIONS APCS DRIVING OUTSIDE OF MALL VARIOUS OF BUSHES, S
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJDNRBK87FZFAEBXYMN6K7DQA
  • Story Text: A loud explosion sent thick smoke billowing 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 62 have already died.
    The blast on Monday (September 23) was followed by other smaller detonations and volleys of gunfire but there was no indication of the fate of people who the authorities say are being held by 10 to 15 Islamist gunmen who took the complex by storm on Saturday (September 21).
    Kenya's interior minister Joseph Ole Lenku said gunmen holed up inside a Nairobi shopping mall had caused a plume of smoke by setting mattresses alight in a supermarket as a decoy, and said two of the "terrorists" had been killed on Monday.
    The minister also said all the militants were men, although some had dressed as women, possibly explaining witness accounts that some of those who launched the assault on Saturday were women. He confirmed two militants have been killed in Monday operations.
    As troops ran into new positions, security official told Reuters at the scene: "It is us who caused the explosion, we are trying to get in through the roof."
    A plume of oily black smoke was still pouring from the building after 15 minutes.
    A senior officer had said police were "closing in" on the militants after rescuing more trapped people overnight. But officials have been suggesting since Sunday that the siege may be near an end, while the guerrillas seemingly remain at large.
    A spokesman for al Shabaab, which has demanded Kenya pull its troops out of neighbouring Somalia, warned they would kill hostages if Kenyan security forces, who are being assisted by Western and Israeli experts, tried to storm their positions.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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