Jihadist attack on shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya

[Santagranddad]

A variety of news agencies and my Kenyan neighbours have been reporting/telling me of an Islamist attack on the upmarket Westgate shopping mall. Reports speak of 39 dead and 160 wounded by a group estimated to number 5 persons armed with grenades and AK47/74s. Allegedly the attackers told people that Moslems were safe and could leave safely.

At least one commentator has said the mall is Israeli owned and had thought to be an al Shabad target for some time.

 

[dzheremi]

Al-Shabab's twitter feed suggests that this is meant to be retribution for the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia:

Al-Shabab, on its Twitter feed, said that it has many times warned Kenya's government that failure to remove its forces from Somalia "would have severe consequences." The group claimed that its gunmen had killed 100 people, but its assertions are often exaggerated.

"The attack at #WestgateMall is just a very tiny fraction of what Muslims in Somalia experience at the hands of Kenyan invaders," al-Shabab said. Another tweet said: "For long we have waged war against the Kenyans in our land, now it's time to shift the battleground and take the war to their land #Westgate." (source)

I haven't heard anything about the mall being owned by Jews, but of course there is still the religious/anti-non Muslim aspect, since after all the attackers are Muslims.

 

[Santagranddad]

Al-Shabab's twitter feed suggests that this is meant to be retribution for the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia:

Al-Shabab, on its Twitter feed, said that it has many times warned Kenya's government that failure to remove its forces from Somalia "would have severe consequences." The group claimed that its gunmen had killed 100 people, but its assertions are often exaggerated.

"The attack at #WestgateMall is just a very tiny fraction of what Muslims in Somalia experience at the hands of Kenyan invaders," al-Shabab said. Another tweet said: "For long we have waged war against the Kenyans in our land, now it's time to shift the battleground and take the war to their land #Westgate." (source)

I haven't heard anything about the mall being owned by Jews, but of course there is still the religious/anti-non Muslim aspect, since after all the attackers are Muslims.

The shopping centre is popular with ex-pats and is situated in a wealthy suburb. President Hollande of France has said at least two French citizens, the British Foreign Secretary has said that Britons are undoubtedly among the casualties. President Uhuru Kenyatta has spoken of 39 dead and 150 wounded. Kenya has been active in combatting al Shabab both in Somalia and Kenya and consequently has been a target for their actions across a lengthy and porous border.

 

[Santagranddad]

The number of killed reported appears to have climbed to 59, with three Britons, two Canadians and the wife of a US diplomat among the dead. It is believed some 10-15 terrorists remained holed up according to news reports.

Seemingly, according to The Times today, the UK's Special Air Service (the SAS) elite forces unit are on high alert.

 

[biro]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/africa/kenya-mall-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Here's a recent article from CNN. The president of Kenya has said he will move quickly.

 

[Santagranddad]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/africa/kenya-mall-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Here's a recent article from CNN. The president of Kenya has said he will move quickly.

Thank you, according to Kenya's Daily Nation at least 68 dead, 175 hospitalised and 1,000 freed. My Kenyan neighbours have expressed the view that the true numbers will never be known.

 

[Charles Martel]

I haven't heard anything about the mall being owned by Jews,

Israeli forces enter Nairobi mall: Kenyan security officials



A Kenyan security official says Israeli forces have entered a shopping mall in the capital, Nairobi, where Somali militants have already killed dozens of people and an unknown number of hostages are still being held.


Local security officials say the Israeli forces have joined Kenyans to end the deadly mall siege on Sunday. The Kenyan troops backed by Israeli forces are now battling against gunmen holding dozens of people hostage inside the shopping mall for the second day.

"The Israelis have just entered and they are rescuing the hostages and the injured," media outlets quoted an unnamed senior Kenyan security source as saying.

Kenyan military spokesman noted that a large number of well-equipped forces are fighting the assailants that attacked the mall, killing nearly 60 people and injuring some 200 more.


http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/22/325379/israeli-forces-enter-nairobi-mall/

 

[scamandrius]

The number of killed reported appears to have climbed to 59, with three Britons, two Canadians and the wife of a US diplomat among the dead. It is believed some 10-15 terrorists remained holed up according to news reports.

Seemingly, according to The Times today, the UK's Special Air Service (the SAS) elite forces unit are on high alert.

Any word yet if an anti-Islam video on YouTube caused this?

 

[Shanghaiski]

The number of killed reported appears to have climbed to 59, with three Britons, two Canadians and the wife of a US diplomat among the dead. It is believed some 10-15 terrorists remained holed up according to news reports.

Seemingly, according to The Times today, the UK's Special Air Service (the SAS) elite forces unit are on high alert.

Any word yet if an anti-Islam video on YouTube caused this?

I heard it was revenge on Kenya's involvement in Somalia.

 

[Santagranddad]

Kenyan security sources reported as saying woman in burka heard issuing orders during siege. Some suggestions this may be the widow of London 7/7 bomber, the so-called 29 year old so-called 'White Widow'. Al Shabad is also quoted as naming two UK citizens as part of the terrorist team.

Reports in last hour speak of heavy gunfire in the Westgate shopping centre.

Yes, Kenyan involvement in action against al Shabab in Somalia as part of the African Union peace keeping force has been cited as a possible trigger for the terrorist action.

 

[vamrat]

My friend and co-worker's wife has been at that mall before.  Another friend grew up in Nairobi and most of her family still lives there.  Luckily, they live on the other end of town and were not at the mall.  God be praised.