CHINA: China condemns an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi which left at least 59 people dead, including one Chinese citizen.

Record ID: 362745

  • Title: CHINA: China condemns an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi which left at least 59 people dead, including one Chinese citizen.
  • Date: 23rd September 2013
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "China firmly opposes any form of terrorism, and strongly condemns the terrorist attack in
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Y0VKYJ7F3SO7HJXZU1IVCZB9
  • Story Text: China on Monday (September 23) condemned an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya by a group of militants from Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, which has left at least 59 people killed, including one Chinese citizen.

    "China firmly opposes any form of terrorism, and strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Nairobi. We express our deep condolences to the victims and offer our sincere sympathy to their families. China will firmly support Kenya's efforts to safeguard national security," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference.
    On Monday, the third day of the raid, the militants threatened to kill people they were holding hostage.
    A senior officer 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.
    The Red Cross said on Monday that the death toll since Saturday's initial lunchtime bloodbath stood at 69. But Interior Minister Lenku said that was wrong and that only 59 were dead.
    Hong also called on the Kenyan government to protect the safety of Chinese citizens.

    "In this unfortunate tragedy, a Chinese citizen was killed, and another Chinese citizen injured. Chinese ambassador to Kenya has already visited the injured person in hospital, and demanded the Kenyan side take active and effective measures to treat the injured Chinese citizen, and protect safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in Kenya," he said.
    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.
    Survivors' tales of the military-style assault by squads of attackers hurling grenades and spraying automatic fire, has left little doubt the hostage-takers are willing to kill. Previous raids around the world, including at a desert gas plan in Algeria nine months ago, suggest they are also ready to die.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register