Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE THREE DAY siege at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi is “nearing an end”, the Kenyan Interior Ministry has said.
“We’re in control of Westgate,” the ministry posted on Twitter.
The move comes some 60 hours after Islamist gunmen stormed the complex and massacred at least 62 people. The al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Interior Ministry also said that 10 people had been arrested in connection with the attack.
“Our forces are combing the mall floor by floor looking for anyone left behind. We believe all hostages have been released,” the ministry added.
A government spokesperson said that they believed all of the hostages had been freed.
“We think that everyone has been evacuated but we don’t want to take any chances,” said Manoah Esipisu.
“The special forces are doing their job and yes, I think we are near the end.”
The Kenyan foreign minister added that the country was unapologetic about their relationship with Israel.
“We are not going to apologise for being friends with Israel and other nations,” said Amina Mohammed.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that six Britons, as well as the son of the former Kenyan ambassador to Ireland, were among the dead.
“Our current best estimate is we now have six British nationals who have died in this incident,” said British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
Bawa told the Daily Telegraph that “my heart just stopped” when he was asked to identify them from photographs taken of those killed at the mall.
AFP contributed additional reporting.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
A heavily pregnant woman was also killed. So sad.
Another nice soft target for the “God is Great ” lads, their buddies will be sitting around the camp fire in some hole or other giving high fives about the number of infidels the butchered. The silence from Irish (moderate!!!!) muslems and the mosque in Dublin is deafening.
why would you expect a response from the Irish muslims and mosque in Dublin??? They share a religion, that is all.
What are your criteria to qualify an organisation to condemn such acts Kate?
Comparing “a” mosque in Dublin to the Vatican Church who “may” have their spokesperson condemn such acts, is a not a likely comparison! These are first and foremost terrorists, using their religion as an excuse. Looking for a comment from the mosque in Dublin, only validates their cause.
It has started raining in Nairobi tonight for the first time since Friday. Hopefully tomorrow is a day where Kenyans can begin to heal.
sorry, not since Friday. Either way its a welcome change. Hopefully tomorrow brings relief.
the image you are painting is not lost on us. I hope relief does come to those affected by this tragedy. My thoughts are with Kenya, including you Kevin. From what I have read you, and many others have been through a lot these past few days.
If Catholics stormed a shopping mall in an African country would it be greeted with silence by the Irish church?
Strange how millions of Africans stave to death every year and we here nothing, yet a few Europeans get caught up in a Muslim terrorist plot and we have to endure it for 72 hours non stop.
Definitely think we as a nation need to ask the big question do we want one of the biggest Muslim centres in Europe on our front lawn ? Such a small population for ever increasing numbers, remember British Muslims could come across the pond it would only take one million and we’re a Muslim state maybe I’m panicking but maybe the Brits have a solution for an old question. Thing is are we the polite stiffer up lip, answer.
What did YOU have to endure compared to those people caught inside? A mosque will not necessarily bring in fundamentalists. Multiculturalism can exists successfully.
Take no prisoners, that’s the spirit.
I think if the Irish army was there it would be over lon ago, after all they are the best peace keepers in the UN and every country trusts them.
This wasn’t about peace keeping, it was taking people out to rescuer others if necessary. Although I would be confident in the DefenceForces capability.
The Army Rangers have real world experience of safely freeing hostages in Liberia and do well in international competitions. I’d be confident they would’ve done an excellent job had they been in that situation. That said, unless they were in place before the attack began, there is no way any force could’ve prevented the islamists from murdering so many innocents.
Your full of sh!t……
not sure how the Irish Army would have handled the situation but this lad did a fine job of saving peoples lives
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2430201/Kenyan-Mall-Massacre-Off-duty-SAS-soldier-handgun-saved-100-lives.html
Excellent a tiny bit of good news in an awful story , now they should send him and his colleagues after the rest of these animals , and slaughter them in a similar manner
I’m pretty sure the Irish would have done just fine http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mystery-irish-hero-saved-hundreds-in-nairobi-29608137.html
The Irish army are experts at peace keeping you must have confidence in them.The banks let them mind millions of euro every day and they are not stupid.
Yes indeed minding money and taking on terrorists…the similarities are amazing.
What in the name of God are you nattering about? This was a hostage situation, not peace keeping or minding cash in transit.
Go to bed
CPM,
Correct
Please Pronsias, as an ex soldier we get enough ridicule on this site, please stop giving people an opportunity to ridicule us more. You have no clue what you are talking about… To a point.
have your say