Monday, September 23, 2013

Latest updates: Nairobi mall seige


Kenya mall rocked by explosions as military attempts another rescue operation for hostages

Kenya’s interior minister says two Islamic extremists were killed Monday as military forces waged an operation to rescue hostages inside an upscale mall in Nairobi. A top military official said he believes the attackers are “a multinational collection from all over the world.”

After four large blasts rocked the Westgate Mall on Monday, sending out large plumes of smoke, Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said Monday that the two militants died from “our morning activities.”

Ole Lenku said that the gunmen had caused the plume of smoke by setting mattresses in a supermarket alight as a decoy.

He also said all of the gunmen were men, although some had dressed as women. There had been reports that women were among the militants. Keep reading

Also see
New: Islamic Extremists Bomb Church in Pakistan, Attack Shopping Mall in Kenya
Explosions, gunfire at Kenyan mall as armed attack enters 3rd day
Explosions at Kenya mall; day 3 of hostage crisis
Fresh Updates: Islamist Violence in Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines

Three Attackers in Kenya Mall Siege Lived in US — CNN

Three of the attackers at the Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi, Kenya, are from the United States, sources within the terror group that orchestrated the attack told CNN on Sunday.

CNN reported that the American-linked militants from the terrorist group al-Shabab are among nine people listed on a since-shuttered Twitter account linked to the group.

Sources told CNN that other names linked to the account include two individuals from Somalia and one each from Canada, Finland, Kenya and the United Kingdom. They range in age from 20 to 27 years old.Keep reading

Also see
New: US Probing if Americans Were Among Kenya Mall Attackers; Death Toll Rises to 62
Terror Group That Claimed Kenya Attack Has Recruited Americans Before
Militant says no Britons among Nairobi attackers
Kenyan Jihadists Target Surprising Recruits: Ex-Christians

Rep. Peter King: Kenya Mall Attack Shows al-Qaida's Reach

The deadly attack at a Nairobi, Kenya, shopping mall was likely carried out by the al-Shabab Islamist organization and shows how terror groups linked with al-Qaida are expanding on an international level, New York Republican Rep. Peter King said Sunday.

This is one of the "only al-Qaida affiliates which has activity here in the United States," King, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

"I would assume that local law enforcement are looking into Somalia-American communities today," King said, noting that there have been some Somalia-Americans trained by al-Shabab, and law enforcement will need to ensure a similar attack won't happen on American soil. Keep reading

New: Church warden among Kenya shopping mall attack victims

A Cape Town church is in mourning after learning that its warden is among the victims of a shopping mall attack in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

James Thomas, 57, was in a supermarket in the Westgate Mall when gunmen reportedly belonging to Somalian Muslim extremist group Al-Shabaab started shooting shoppers at random.

St Peter's Church, Mowbray, where he was a warden, confirmed that Thomas had died of a gunshot wound. Keep reading

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