By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya – Most of the hostages caught in the Nairobi mall attack in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, have been rescued. Kenya’s military reported that it has secured “most parts” of the upscale shopping mall where al-Qaeda linked militants armed with assault rifles and grenades killed 68 people in an attack and two-day siege.
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The assault began before sundown on Sunday.
The militants are believed to be from Somalia’s al-Shabab movement. Now only a small number of hostages remain under the control of the militants.
“All efforts are underway to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion,” the government’s defense forces statement reported.
Officials have not immediately released the number of hostages that were rescued or the number of hostages that remain in the mall. Four Kenyan military personnel were wounded in the rescue operation, the military said.
Many of the rescued hostages, mostly adults, were suffering from dehydration, a military spokesman told The Associated Press. The military spokesman, Col. Cyrus Oguna, also refused to release the number of hostages rescued or that remained, but did state that some of the attackers had “most probably” been killed in the operation.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attackers “ruthless and completely reckless terrorists.” Kerry spoke Sunday with Somalia’s foreign minister and U.N. ambassador.
There are now reports that the gunmen are currently holed up in a supermarket. Civilians in the complex are believed to be held as hostages or in hiding.
Correspondents say the full extent of the attack will not be known until the military is back in control.
The BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse says he cannot see or hear anything that suggests a “final push” by security forces that surround the complex.
The Somali militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility on Twitter for Saturday’s attack, which was allegedly carried out by 10 to 15 gunmen with AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons. Al-Shabaab, which said the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces’ 2011 push into Somalia, threatened more violence.
“The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the #Kenyan Kuffar inside their own turf,” the group said on Twitter.
“What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military,” the group said.
Some witnesses said the militants released Muslims, but non-Muslims were targeted.
This is one of the worst incidents in Kenya since the attack on the U.S. embassy in 1998.
For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Nairobi Westgate attack: ‘Most hostages are rescued’ – 22 September 2013
Huffington Post – Most Nairobi Mall Hostages Rescued, Kenyan Army Says – 22 September 2013
USA Today – Kenya military says most hostages rescued in mall siege – 22 September 2013
Ryot – Kenya Military Says Most Hostages Have Been Rescued Following Bloody Attack at Westgate Mall (GRAPHIC PHOTOS) – 22 September 2013
Chicago Tribune – Kenya says it’s in control of Nairobi mall, ‘most’ hostages freed – 22 September 2013
CNN – 39 killed and more carnage feared as Kenya mall attackers face off – 21 September 2013