KENYA MALL ATTACK: Security Forces Comb Westgate Site, as Crisis Entered Its Forth Day (PHOTO, VIDEO)
Kenyan
security forces are combing the Nairobi shopping centre attacked by
suspected al-Shabab militants, as they seek to secure the site.
An
explosion and bursts of gunfire were heard coming from the Westgate
complex on the morning of September 24, 2013, Tuesday, as speculation
grew that the operation was nearing its end.
JUST IN:
- Three Kenyan soldiers died of wounds received in siege of Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, interior ministry confirms.
- Part of Nairobi mall roof collapsed as in a siege. Fireman - AFP (via Twitter).
- Al-Shabab claimed the picture below shows their fighters in the shopping centre.
No fewer than 62 people have been killed since the beginning of the attack on September 21, Saturday, and over 170 injured. From 51 to 62 people remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, Kenya's foreign minister said “two or three” Americans and a British woman were among the attackers.
In
an interview with the US TV programme PBS Newshour, Amina Mohamed said
the Americans were 18 or 19 years old, of Somali or Arab origin, and
lived “in Minnesota and one other place”.
She said the Briton was a woman who had “done this many times before”.
Ms.
Mohamed appeared to contradict earlier comments from Kenya's interior
minister, who suggested that all the attackers were men – though some
may have been dressed as women.
The Somali Islamist al-Shabab movement said it carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia.
British officials said they would not be drawn on the identity of the attackers while investigations continue.
Early
on Tuesday a Kenyan officer at the scene said he believed there could
be two or three attackers left inside the building. You may check the
structure of the shopping mall below:
The
interior ministry said it believed all hostages had been released -
though messages on a Twitter feed purporting to speak for al-Shabab said
hostages were still being held and militants were “holding their
ground”.
Official sources that six of the attackers have been killed: three on Monday and three since midnight.
Officials said earlier that 10 people had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku told the BBC late on Monday that the operation was in its final stages.
“The
terrorists could be running and hiding in some stores, but all floors
now are under our control. There is no room for escape,” the Minister
added.
Kenyan media has presented another raw
footage of the battles between security forces and members of
Al-Shabaab. The video below shows how fire rages inside the Westgate
Mall…