Nairobi Westgate attack: ‘Military assault begins’ to break siege

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines, Top Stories Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Kenyan security forces appear to have launched an assault on the Westgate shopping complex in the capital Nairobi in an attempt to break the siege there.

Gunfire and explosions were heard at the complex and a cloud of smoke could be seen billowing from the building.

A Kenyan police official said that security forces had rescued some hostages held by the attackers.

The official death toll now stands at 62 and more than 170 have been injured since the attack began on Saturday.

Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku confirmed the number of dead. The Kenyan Red Cross had earlier reported that 69 people had been killed, but later revised its figure to 62.

The Somali al-Shabab movement has said it carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenyan military operations in Somalia.

‘Gaining advantage’

The latest round of gunfire and explosions appears to be a dramatic turn of events in the security forces’ operation, the BBC’s Mike Wooldridge reports from Nairobi.

Television pictures showed troops running towards the complex. About 10 attackers were thought to be inside.

“We’re increasingly gaining advantage of the attackers,” inspector general of Kenyan police David Kimaiyo said in a tweet.

It is not clear as yet what caused the blasts, or what impact they are having on the operation to rescue hostages taken by the militants, our correspondent reports.

More troops can be seen on the move around the building, he adds.

The Kenyan interior minister said that the fire at the building was started by the “terrorists”.

Two of the attackers were killed this morning, and others injured, he said.

“I work 400m away and I can see heavy black smoke,” local resident Eric Onchangu told the BBC.

“I can see a helicopter and we know there are lots of KDF [security forces] in the area – we have been warned to stay indoors as it’s so dangerous,” he added.

By Sunday night, Kenyan security forces said they secured most of the shopping centre and that only a small number of hostages remained under the militants’ control.