Kenyan special
forces were today locked in a fight to the death with Islamic terrorists
who have been barricaded inside a Nairobi mall with up to 40 hostages
since Saturday. Witnesses
described hearing four large explosions at the Westgate Shopping Centre
followed by the sight of thick plumes of smoke and the sounds of fierce
gunfire after the military tried to break the three day siege by gaining
access from the roof.
It is feared
that some of the gunmen, who are from Al Qaeda affiliated group Al
Shabaab, may have blown themselves up, though a Kenyan government
minister said that militants had set fire to some mattresses in a
supermarket as a decoy.
Interior
Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said that two of the terrorists had been
killed and that most hostages were now free. All of the militants were
men, he added, although some were dressed as women. 'We think the
operation will come to an end soon', he said. 'We are in control of all
the floors, the terrorists are running and hiding in some stores...
there is no room for escape'.
The Red Cross
has put the death toll at 62 - including four Britons - and say 63 are
still missing. At least 175 were injured, including children.
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