Author Topic: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack  (Read 9670 times)

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famousdayandyear

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Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« on: September 21, 2013, 01:50:23 pm »
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/21/world/africa/kenya-mall-gunbattle/index.html?hpt=hp_t2


At least 20 killed when gunmen ambush Nairobi shopping mall, Red Cross says
By Faith Karimi and Zain Verjee, CNN
updated 9:31 AM EDT, Sat September 21, 2013

(video @ link)

(CNN) -- Gunmen ambushed an upscale shopping mall in the Kenyan capital on Saturday, leading to a fierce gunbattle with police and at least 20 people killed, the Kenyan Red Cross said.

Fifty people more people were wounded in the attack at the mall in Nairobi, said Abbas Gullet, head of the Kenyan Red Cross.

The gunmen burst into the mall and shot indiscriminately, taking some people hostage, according to a senior Kenyan government source.

It was unclear how many hostages the attackers took, but police are trying to negotiate for their release and retake the building, according to the source.

Attackers appear to be of Somali origin, a Kenyan government source and Western diplomatic sources told CNN.

The military asked local media not to televise anything live because the gunmen are watching the screens in the mall.

Crowds fled down the streets as soldiers in military fatigues crawled under cars to get closer to the mall, guns cocked.

Surveillance helicopters flew overhead.

"We urge Kenyans to keep off Westgate mall, adjacent roads and its environs until further notice," the Interior Ministry said on its Twitter page.

It declined to release further information, saying it will issue a statement later.

"We're doing our job to ensure that everyone is evacuated to safety," the ministry said. "This is a scene of crime, let police do their job."

CNN affiliate NTV reported multiple shooters were at the scene and terrified shoppers were hiding inside the mall, which is popular among expatriates and the wealthy.

The high-end mall opened six years ago, and has more than 80 stores.
« Last Edit: September 22, 2013, 05:45:46 pm by Atomic Cow »

Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2013, 02:20:46 pm »
Quote
Attackers appear to be of Somali origin
Big surprise.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Gunmen stormed a shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday killing at least 15 people in what Kenya's government said might be a terrorist attack, and sending scores fleeing into shops, a cinema and onto the streets in search of safety.

Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started as soldiers surrounded the mall and police combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.

The Somali militant group al Shabaab, which Kenya blames for shootings, bombings and grenade attacks against churches and the security forces, had threatened to strike the Westgate mall, popular with the city's expatriate community. The chain of attacks follows action by Kenyan forces against al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia two years ago.

Police helicopters circled above the mall as armed police shouted "get out, get out", and scores of shoppers fled the building. Smoke poured out of one entrance and witnesses said they heard grenade blasts.

Others said they saw about five armed assailants storm the Westgate shopping mall and that the incident appeared to be an attack rather than an armed robbery.

"They don't seem like thugs, this is not a robbery incident," said Yukeh Mannasseh who was on the mall's top floor when the shooting started. "It seems like an attack. The guards who saw them said they were shooting indiscriminately."

Kenya's Ministry of Interior said: "It is a possibility that it is an attack by terrorists, so we are treating the matter very seriously.".

Asked if foreign security services were involved in the operation to flush out the attackers, he said, "At this stage it has not become necessary yet."

One eyewitness who identified himself as Taha said he heard the screech of brakes followed moments later by an explosion and then sustained gun fire from the ground floor.

Another survivor said he was shot by a man who looked Somali.

Some shoppers ran up stairs and escalators and hid around the mall's cinema complex. Police found another terrified group hiding in a toilet on the first floor.

At least two dozen wounded were wheeled out on stretchers and shopping trolleys. Many of the victims had multiple light wounds, apparently from flying debris. Other walked out, some with bloodied clothing wrapped around wounds.

The Kenyan Red Cross told Reuters at least 15 had been killed and more casualties were still inside the complex.

"The casualties are many, and that's only what we have on the outside," Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Guled said. "Inside there are even more casualties and shooting is still going on."

"CARNAGE"

Al Shabaab have previously threatened to launch strikes on Nairobi's tower blocks and soft targets including nightclubs and hotels known to be popular with Westerners in the capital. But they have so far failed to carry out such an attack.

"I personally touched the eyes of four people and they were dead. One of them was a child," said one former British soldier at the scene.

"It's carnage up there."

Asked if the attack was a robbery, one paramilitary officer said: "No, terrorist". There has, though, been no official statement from the police regarding the attackers' motive.

Police cordoned off the roads surrounding the mall in central Nairobi's Westlands neighborhood.

Satpal Singh, who was in another cafe on the mall's top floor said he ran downstairs when he heard the gunfire and was shot at near the mall's main exit.

"A Somali guy shot at me. The guy who shot me was carrying a rifle, an AK-47," 36-year-old Singh said.
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Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2013, 02:39:04 pm »
Quote
... One witness claimed gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave and that only non-Muslims would be targeted.

Security guards were seen wheeling out bloodstained bodies in shopping trolleys from upmarket mall in the Westlands district of the city, witnesses said, after the attack that broke out at midday today.

Locals and tourists who had come out shopping on the sunny Saturday morning ran screaming from the building and cars were left abandoned as attackers threw grenades and fired AK47s.  ...
More at Daily Mail U.K.
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Offline happyg

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2013, 03:38:35 pm »
Gunmen threw grenades and opened fire Saturday killing at least 10 people in an attack targeting non-Muslims at an upscale mall in Kenya's capital that was hosting a children's day event, witnesses said.

A local hospital was overwhelmed with the number of wounded being brought in hours after the attack, so they had to divert them to a second facility.

Elijah Kamau, who was at the mall at the time of the midday attack, said that the gunmen made a declaration that non-Muslims would be targeted.

"The gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave. They were safe, and non-Muslims would be targeted," he said.

Manish Turohit, 18, said he saw gunmen with AK-47s and vests with hand grenades on them inside the mall before he escaped to hide in a parking garage for two hours.

"They just came in and threw a grenade. We were running and they opened fire. They were shouting and firing," he said after being marched out of the mall in line with about 15 people who held their hands in the air.

Rob Vandijk, who works at the Dutch embassy, said he was eating at a restaurant inside the mall when attackers lobbed hand grenades inside the building. He said gunfire then burst out and people screamed as they dropped to the ground.

It appears the attack began at the outdoor seating area of Artcaffe at the front of the mall, witnesses said.

Patrick Kuria, an employee at Artcaffe, said: "We started by hearing gunshots downstairs and outside. Later we heard them come inside. We took cover. Then we saw two gunmen wearing black turbans. I saw them shoot."

Some people were shot at the entrance to the mall after volleys of gunfire moved outside and a standoff with police began. Ambulances continued to stream in and out of the mall area, ferrying the wounded who were gradually emerging from hiding inside the mall.

Many of those running from the mall clutched small children. Others were crying. Mall guards used shopping carts to wheel out wounded children.

Associated Press journalists at the mall said they saw at least 10 dead bodies and dozens wounded hours after the attack began. Officials did not yet give an official death toll.

"We are treating this as a terrorist attack," said police chief Benson Kibue, adding that there are likely no more than 10 attackers involved. Gunfire continued to be exchanged outside the mall, as a group of people remained in hiding inside the building.

Police did not say what group was responsible for the attack.

Somali's rebel group al-Shabab vowed in late 2011 to carry out a large-scale attack in Nairobi in retaliation for Kenya's sending of troops into Somalia to fight the Islamic insurgents.

The Westgate Mall is situated in Nairobi's affluent Westlands area and is frequented by expatriates and rich Kenyans.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/21/attack-on-nairobi-mall-kills-10-people/?intcmp=latestnews#ixzz2fXfptMij

Oceander

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2013, 05:43:29 pm »
Kenya - and Nairobi - just aren't what they used to be.

Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2013, 06:33:04 pm »
Photos at the Daily Mail link, above.
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Offline Atomic Cow

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2013, 06:44:23 pm »
Merged duplicate threads since both had replies.
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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2013, 08:44:32 pm »
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/21/witness-kenya-mall-attackers-target-non-muslims/2846319/

Americans among injured in deadly Kenya mall attack
Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY 4:38 p.m. EDT September 21, 2013







At least 30 people were killed during a Saturday afternoon shooting rampage at a shopping mall in an upscale district of Nairobi. The attack is believed to be orchestrated by extremists against non-Muslim Kenyans and Westerners in the area.

CNN said that at least 100 were also injured, while the Red Cross reported the number of deceased.

Somali militant group al-Shabaab on Twitter claimed responsibility for the deadly shooting, which was allegedly carried out by five to 10 gunmen with AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons. Al-Shabaab said the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces' 2011 push into Somalia and threatened more violence.

"The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the #Kenyan Kuffar inside their own turf," the group said on Twitter.

"What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military," the group said.

Americans were among those injured at the Westgate mall shooting, according to a statement from Marie Harf, deputy spokesman for the State Department.

"We have reports of American citizens injured in the attack, and the U.S. Embassy is actively reaching out to provide assistance," she said. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment on American citizens at this time."

The attack began on Saturday afternoon, according to Kenya's Daily Nation. Gunmen tossed grenades and opened fire as panicking shoppers fled the building, some jumping down one story from the second floor of the mall to escape, witnesses told the paper.

Nairobi Police Chief Benson Kibue deemed the shooting "a terrorist attack."

Witnesses told local and national news media that the gunman asked Muslims to leave before opening fire. Kenya is 83% Christian with a sizable Muslim community — about 11% of its 44 million people.

As night fell in Kenya's capital, hostages remained inside the mall, but officials didn't say how many people were held captive. Army special forces troops had moved inside the mall as well.

Off-duty Sgt. Major Frank Mugungu told the Associated Press that he saw four male attackers and one female, and that he could clearly identify one of the gunmen as a Somali, though he could not identify the rest.

Military cordoned off the building in the heart of the upscale Westlands district, which is home to upper-class Kenyans and expatriate Westerners — many of whom work for the United Nations — and a locale frequented by tourists.

A local organization was hosting a party for children at the Israeli-owned Westgate mall on Saturday. The mall is also a popular nightspot for hip, young Kenyans who gather there to watch movies or eat at restaurants there.

It is on Kenya's watch list as a site for attacks, along wi


People who had been hiding during the gun battle hold their hands in the air as a precautionary measure before being searched by armed police leading them to safety, inside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 21, 2013.(Photo: Jonathan Kalan, AP)

Like most shopping mall complexes in Nairobi, it is manned by security personnel at its entrance, checking bags and shoppers with metal detectors. But locals noted repeatedly in the aftermath of the attacks that these are just cursory checks and that the security guards are no match for armed gunman.

Still, security in the city is tight because of prior attacks in the past two decades, including one on the U.S. Embassy by al-Qaeda in 1998 that killed more than 200 people. Besides the threat of terrorism, the city faces its own internal threats — sometimes called "Nairobbery" — arising from extreme poverty and income inequality.

Crime and corruption are among the biggest concerns of the locals. The city is one of the most dangerous urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the situation is better than a decade ago, most middle-class and wealthy urban dwellers refrain from walking on city streets after dark, a situation that has led to the popularity of the city's shopping malls in its rich western districts as quasi-entertainment centers.
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famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2013, 09:28:18 pm »
Susan Rice:  This was caused by a heinous video that set these poor people off.

famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2013, 09:49:18 pm »
http://legalinsurrection.com/

Terrorist attack at Nairobi mall (Video @ Link)
Posted by neo-neocon      Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 4:05pm

There has been an attack by gunmen at an upscale Nairobi mall, killing at least 30 and wounding countless more. Hostages have also been taken.

An al Qaeda-linked Somalian-based group has claimed the credit—or the blame, depending on your outlook.

A mall attack on this scale has long been expected, since it would be relatively easy to get guns into the vast majority of such facilities and there is a huge concentration of unarmed potential victims milling about, including children who are perfect terrorist fodder. This particular mall catered to expatriates and the wealthy, all the more reason for terrorists to consider it a target-rich environment.

The CNN article just linked is a long one with many details, including the fact that the deed was most likely perpetrated by Islamic terrorists. But it omits several items found in this article at Fox, such as the fact that the mall was owned by an Israeli company, a special children’s day was being hosted there, and the terrorist group al-Shabab (the same one that had said the attack was their handiwork) had sworn in 2011 to attack Nairobi in retaliation for Kenya’s sending troops to Somalia to fight Islamic insurgents.

Also this:

    Elijah Kamau, who was at the mall at the time of the midday attack, said that the gunmen made a declaration that non-Muslims would be targeted.

    “The gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave. They were safe, and non-Muslims would be targeted,” he said.

The CNN article, by the way, appears to disagree, saying the gunmen fired “indiscriminately.” But the Daily Mail also reports that at least one of the terrorists explicitly spared Muslims, asking people to recite a Muslim prayer in order to prove their religious affiliation.

Reports seem to agree that the attack began just outside the mall and then moved inside, and according to Fox there were armed police on the spot even at the outset. But there were multiple armed perpetrators; up to ten have been reported, and they also detonated grenades. They may have outnumbered the initial police on the scene, although backup arrived in the form of members of the military and/or more police, who then surrounded the mall.

[Neo-neocon is a writer with degrees in law and family therapy, who blogs at neo-neocon.]

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Offline Cincinnatus

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2013, 10:06:03 pm »
I don't want anyone to think I am indifferent to this tragedy and the suffering and death it has caused, but I wish to remind you Kenya was home to the terrorist Mau Mau movement of the 1950s which led to Kenyan independence and the installation of Mau Mau leader Jomo Kenyatta as its first president in 1964.

You reap what you sow.

http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kenya/a/MauMauTimeline.htm
« Last Edit: September 21, 2013, 10:06:27 pm by Cincinnatus »
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famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2013, 10:23:18 pm »
I don't want anyone to think I am indifferent to this tragedy and the suffering and death it has caused, but I wish to remind you Kenya was home to the terrorist Mau Mau movement of the 1950s which led to Kenyan independence and the installation of Mau Mau leader Jomo Kenyatta as its first president in 1964.

You reap what you sow.

http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kenya/a/MauMauTimeline.htm

Oops.  I forgot to include a history of Kenya.  Must, Remember, Not, To, Omit, Next, Time.
Thanks, Cincinnatus

Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2013, 10:40:10 pm »
Kenya also is home to a dear Christian friend of my family, who teaches at Kenyatta University in Nairobi (one of the people pictured below).
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Offline Cincinnatus

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2013, 10:43:49 pm »
Mountaineer, I am not claiming all the people in Kenya were involved with the Mau Mau, nor even supported its actions. I also hope Kenyans are safe and don't suffer undue violence.

But I put it to you: who taught people like these gunmen that violence and terror are the way to achieve your political goals?
We shall never be abandoned by Heaven while we act worthy of its aid ~~ Samuel Adams

famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2013, 11:06:25 pm »
Mountaineer, I am not claiming all the people in Kenya were involved with the Mau Mau, nor even supported its actions. I also hope Kenyans are safe and don't suffer undue violence.

But I put it to you: who taught people like these gunmen that violence and terror are the way to achieve your political goals?

Mohammed?

famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2013, 11:11:38 pm »
Kenya also is home to a dear Christian friend of my family, who teaches at Kenyatta University in Nairobi (one of the people pictured below).
a

Hope your friend was not affected by the attack today.

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2013, 11:22:10 pm »
Quote

At least 30 people were killed during a Saturday afternoon shooting rampage at a shopping mall in an upscale district of Nairobi. The attack is believed to be orchestrated by extremists against non-Muslim Kenyans and Westerners in the area.


Probably more going on here beside the religious angle.

It's a class struggle too.  Envy figures in. 

If you're an angry jihadist, you most likely are unemployed.  What 'joy' is there to kill a Walmart shopper?  [/s]
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Offline Cincinnatus

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2013, 11:28:51 pm »
Probably more going on here beside the religious angle.

A report on TV (Fox News) said Kenyan forces have been in Somalia trying to aid in stabilizing the country's government. It further stated the Jihadis have been warning them to get out and go home.
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famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2013, 12:02:28 am »
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/09/21/hostages-still-being-held-at-the-mall-shooting-in-kenya/

Hostages are still being held at the mall shooting in Kenya.

    BREAKING: Hostages still held in Nairobi #Westgate mall, security operation continues

    — Agence France-Presse (@AFP) September 21, 2013

At least 39 people have been reported killed, another 150 injured.

The Westgate Mall was a mall frequented by expats and wealthy Kenyans. It was also Israeli-owned, making it an inviting target to terrorists.

Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hostages were forced to name the Prophet’s mother. If they could not, they were reportedly shot in the head.

NY Times Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist Tyler Hicks was next door to the mall. He went in with some of the police and got some of the following pictures. Warning that some are graphic.

Nickarama | September 21, 2013 7:45 pm

famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2013, 12:04:34 am »
There are hot links at the site that I did not transpose in my post.

famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #21 on: September 22, 2013, 12:51:32 am »
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/09/21/al-shabaab-live-tweeting-the-attack-at-nairobi-mall/tweets-aq-2/

Al-Shabaab Live Tweeting The Attack At Nairobi Mall

Al-Shabaab was live tweeting the attack from a few different twitter accounts.

Here are some of the tweets:
It’s funny how the Infidels cry, rushing with slag and insist on their teeth around small accidents while their armies kill Thousands of Muslims. # _ youth movement Mujahideen _ # Kenya

Defending Muslim land from any obligations after faith and protector of the enemy Aggressor is our right as Muslims. # _ youth movement Mujahideen _ # Nairobi # Kenya

Kenyans are uniting across Twitter reporting for spam al-Shabaab accounts like @HSMPress. The account was suspended and the Kenyans are hot on the trail of any replacement accounts.

The current accounts which appear to be them are @HSMPress_arabic and @HSMPress3 where they apologize for the loss of life, but claim it is necessary.

Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #22 on: September 22, 2013, 11:30:19 am »
But I put it to you: who taught people like these gunmen that violence and terror are the way to achieve your political goals?
People with whom Barack Obama Sr. was in complete agreement, I'd wager.
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Offline mountaineer

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #23 on: September 22, 2013, 12:26:28 pm »
These are your people, Effin. Yours and Obama's. Spare us the crocodile tears and phony vows to fight terrorism.
Quote
Statement from John Kerry on 'unspeakable evil' in Nairobi, Kenya
 September 22, 2013 8:00 AM 


Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 21, 2013

Today's terrorist massacre of so many innocents is a heartbreaking reminder that there exists unspeakable evil in our world which can destroy life in a senseless instant. I want to express my deepest condolences - and the condolences of our entire nation - to the families and friends of the victims in Nairobi today. While the casualty count is still to be determined, we know already that there are at least 30 innocent men, women, and children dead and 60 injured, including several American citizens. We have offered our assistance to the Government of Kenya and stand ready to help in any way we can.

Although we have no reports of any Americans killed today, we have lost a member of our own State Department family: the wife of a foreign service national working for the U.S. Agency for International Development. The men and women of USAID work courageously around the world to help people striving for a better life. While we mourn with her family today, we also pledge our commitment to do whatever we can to assist in bringing the perpetrators of this abhorrent violence to justice, and to continue our efforts to improve the lives of people across the globe.

Attacks like this can't change who we are, a people committed to peace and justice for all, but rather must reaffirm our determination to counter extremism and promote tolerance everywhere. As we prepare to bring the world's leaders together at the United Nations next week, we are reminded again in tragedy of our common humanity.
Link
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famousdayandyear

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Re: Live Thread: Nairobi Terrorist Attack
« Reply #24 on: September 22, 2013, 02:59:03 pm »
http://weaselzippers.us/

Israeli Special Forces Have Stormed The Mall With Kenyan Police To Rescue Hostages

    BREAKING UPDATE: Israeli Forces have entered #Westgate Shopping mall in Nairobi

    — News On The Min (@NewsOnTheMin) September 22, 2013

Via Haaretz, reports are that the special forces are storming the mall and rescuing hostages at this moment:

    Israeli forces have reportedly joined efforts to end a deadly siege by Somali militants at a Kenyan shopping mall, a security source told AFP Sunday.

    “The Israelis have just entered and they are rescuing the hostages and the injured,” AFP quoted the sourec as saying on condition he not be named.

    The attack by Al-Qaida-linked militants at the Nairobi killed at least 59 people and wounded 175, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary said earlier Sunday.

    Multiple barrages of gunfire erupted Sunday morning from inside the building where there is a hostage standoff with Islamic extremists nearly 24 hours after they attacked using grenades and assault rifles.

    “The priority is to save as many lives as possible,” Joseph Lenku said, reassuring the families of the hostages in the upscale Westgate mall. Kenyan forces have already rescued about 1,000 people, he said.