Unexploded grenades recovered at Westgate, number of trapped bodies unknown

The Standard

A team of forensic experts combing at the Westgate Mall yesterday recovered at least five unexploded hand grenades.

The explosives were retrieved from the upper floors of the mall by the teams that ventured there for the first time since the siege ended.

Experts from Israel, the United States, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom joined the Kenyan team in carrying out analysis at the mall.

Those from CID headquarters and military were also at the mall seeking for evidence.

Their efforts were however, hampered by a section of the mall that was still burning following the siege that caused a fire. Smoke billowed from the burning section up to yesterday.

The experts, who include those from the Interpol, want to gather evidence that can help crack the assault.

They collected other samples for tests, which Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku said will take not less than a week to get results.

Lying relatives

The experts said it would take almost a week for them to reach where the bodies are trapped because the rubbles need special machines and time to remove.

Lenku said the number of bodies inside the rubbles could be insignificant. “We believe there are bodies there but the number could be insignificant including those of slain assailants. Let us give experts time to do their job,” said Lenku.

Even as he said the number is insignificant, officials said relatives and friends had said more than 60 people who are believed to have been at the mall before or during the siege are missing.

“They have to wait as we comb the building to get to all corners and remove the bodies,” said a police officer involved in the exercise, but asked not to be named.

But other investigators said they had established some of those claiming their relatives were calling from the mall before the final assault and crumbling were lying after it was established the numbers provided were in parts of Nakuru, Nyahururu and Laikipia.

“We have followed some of the mobile numbers provided and established they are in Nakuru, Nyahururu and Laikipia,” said Government Spokesman Manoah Esipisu.