At Least 10 Dead in Terrorist Attack on Kenya Mall

Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com

Saturday, 21 Sep 2013 

NAIROBI, Kenya — Gunmen threw grenade and opened fire inside Nairobi's most upscale mall, killing about 10 people and wounding dozens.

Associated Press reporters said Saturday they saw about 10 dead bodies more than two hours after the attack began at the Westgate shopping center. Officials did not give an official death toll.
 

Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue said this was a terrorist attack and that there are likely no more than 10 terrorists involved, as gunfire continues to be exchanged.
 

Manish Turohit, 18, says he saw gunmen with AK-47s and vests with hand grenades on them inside the mall. He escaped after hiding in the parking garage for two hours.
 

A group of people remain in hiding inside the mall.

An Agence France Presse television journalist reported seeing bodies laid out in front of Nairobi's Westgate mall, and two more bodies inside.

An eyewitness who survived the assault by gunmen said he saw the body of a child being taken out of the mall.

"The gunmen tried to fire at my head but missed. At least 50 people were shot. There are definitely many casualties," a mall employee, Sudjar Singh, told AFP.

"I saw a young boy carried out on a shopping cart, it looked like he was about 5 or 6. It looked like he was gone, he was not moving or making any noise."

Heavy gunfire could also be heard inside the mall as armed police moved in.

Shocked and terrified people ran from the area, some of them wounded, while cars with bullet holes were abandoned outside, according to another AFP reporter on the scene.

"I saw three of the attackers dressed in black and with covered faces and they were carrying heavy rifles," said a witness and survivor who identified herself as Annette.

Kenneth Kerich, who was shopping when the attack happened, described scenes of panic.

"I suddenly heard gunshots and saw everyone running around so we lied down. I saw two people who were lying down and bleeding, I think they were hit by bullets. The gunfire went on from ground floor and the upper floors," he said.

"Initially we thought it is police fighting thugs. But we could not leave until when officers walked in, shot in the air and told us to get out."

© AFP 2013