Sep 23, 2013

At least 62 dead in seige at Kenyan mall

Robert Hamilton 0 Comment World Kenya, mall, Nairobi, rebels, seige, Somalia

Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, the third day since Somalia’s al Shabaab launched a raid that has killed at least 62 people according to a Reuters report. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping center, after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by black smoke billowing from one part of the complex.

: Police officers take cover following a string of explosions from Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, during the third day of a stand off between Kenyan security forces and gunmen inside the building September 23, 2013. Powerful explosions sent thick smoke billowing from the Nairobi mall where militants from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group threatened to kill hostages on the third day of a raid in which at least 59 have already died. (Siegfried Modola/Reuters photo)

: A man donates blood to the injured victims of the attack on a shopping mall at a temporary donation centre at Uhuru Park grounds in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Gunfire and explosions sounded on Monday from the Nairobi mall where militants from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group threatened to kill hostages on the third day of a raid in which at least 68 have already died. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Firefighters enter Westgate shopping centre after explosions at the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Kenya Defence Forces soldiers take a break near the Westgate shopping centre after an exchange of gunfire inside the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: A policeman and photographers take cover after hearing gun shots near the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Karel Prinsloo/Reuters photo)

: People take cover behind a car along a road during heavy gunfire at Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Fire engines and armoured military vehicles are pictured in front of Westgate shopping centre after explosions at the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Police officers and members of the media take cover at a distance from the Westgate Shopping Centre after continuous gunfire was heard coming from the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Siegfried Modola/Reuters photo)

: A Kenya Defence Forces soldier carrying a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) walks past an armoured military vehicle in front of the Westgate shopping centre after an exchange of gunfire inside the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Kenya Defence Forces soldiers take cover behind walls near the Westgate shopping centre after an exchange of gunfire inside the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Smoke rises from the Westgate shopping centre after explosions at the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex.(Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: Kenya Defence Forces soldiers take cover behind a wall near the Westgate shopping centre after an exchange of gunfire inside the mall in Nairobi September 23, 2013. Thick smoke poured from the besieged Nairobi mall where Kenyan officials said their forces were closing in on Islamists holding hostages on Monday, three days after a raid by Somalia’s al Shabaab killed at least 62 people. It remained unclear how many gunmen and hostages were still cornered in the Westgate shopping centre, two hours after a series of loud explosions and gunfire were followed by a plume of black smoke, that grew in volume from one part of the complex. (Noor Khamis/Reuters photo)

: A man only identified by his first name, Stephen (C) is comforted by Pastor Elizabeth Akinyi (R) and family members at the city mortuary in Nairobi on September 23, 2013. Stephen’s father was killed in the Westgate mall siege on September 21, 2013. Kenyan Defence troops remain inside the mall, in a standoff with Somali militants after they laid siege to the shopping centre shooting and throwing grenades as they entered. (Carl de Souza/Getty Images)

: A soldier rides a horse near the Westgate shopping centre after an explosion in Nairobi, September 23, 2013. Powerful explosions sent thick smoke billowing from the Nairobi mall where militants from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group threatened to kill hostages on the third day of a raid in which at least 59 have already died. (Karel Prinsloo/Reuters photo)

: A Kenyan police officer mans on September 23, 2013 the entrance of a building in the vicinity of the beseiged Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi from where a column of smoke rises following a loud explosion. Kenyan security forces were locked in a fierce, final battle with Somali Islamist gunmen inside the upmarket mall on September 23 as huge explosions and a barrage of heavy gunfire echoed out of the complex. A thick cloud of black smoke billowed out from the Westgate mall as Kenyan officials said the 50-hour-long siege — which has seen the gunmen massacre at least 62 people and take dozens more hostage — was close to being resolved. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began midday on September 21, when the gunmen marched into the complex, firing grenades and automatic weapons and sending panicked shoppers fleeing. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: Volunteers from the asian-community run for cover on September 23, 2013, after hearing a volley of gunshots at the scene of a siegeof an upmarket shopping mall by al-shebab, Somalia based al-Qaeda linked terror network. Atleast 69 are confirmed dead and 63 recorded in an ongoing hostile take-over of the prestigious Westgate shopping mall that has been claimed by the shebab whose operatives have been engaged in heavy exchanges with a combined force of Kenya’s defence forces an elite police units. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: Kenyan security personnel, crouched behind a ledge, watch on September 23, 2013 a column of smoke rise from the beseiged Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi following a loud explosion. Kenyan security forces were locked in a fierce, final battle with Somali Islamist gunmen inside the upmarket mall on September 23 as huge explosions and a barrage of heavy gunfire echoed out of the complex. A thick cloud of black smoke billowed out from the Westgate mall as Kenyan officials said the 50-hour-long siege — which has seen the gunmen massacre at least 62 people and take dozens more hostage — was close to being resolved. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began midday on September 21, when the gunmen marched into the complex, firing grenades and automatic weapons and sending panicked shoppers fleeing. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: Armed Kenyan policemen take cover outside the Westgate mall in Nairobi on September 23, 2013. Kenyan troops were locked in a fierce firefight with Somali militants inside an upmarket Nairobi shopping mall on September 22 in a final push to end a siege that has left at least 69 dead and 200 wounded with an unknown number of hostages still being held. Somalia’s Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels said the carnage at the part Israeli-owned complex mall was in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia, where African Union troops are battling the Islamists. (Simon Maina/Getty images)

: Smoke rises on September 23, 2013 from the beseiged Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi following a loud explosion. Kenyan security forces were locked in a fierce, final battle with Somali Islamist gunmen inside the upmarket mall on September 23 as huge explosions and a barrage of heavy gunfire echoed out of the complex. A thick cloud of black smoke billowed out from the Westgate mall as Kenyan officials said the 50-hour-long siege — which has seen the gunmen massacre at least 62 people and take dozens more hostage — was close to being resolved. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began midday on September 21, when the gunmen marched into the complex, firing grenades and automatic weapons and sending panicked shoppers fleeing. (Simon Maina/Getty images)

: People watch a column of smoke rise on September 23, 2013 in the vicinity of the beseiged Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi following a loud explosion. Kenyan security forces were locked in a fierce, final battle with Somali Islamist gunmen inside the upmarket mall on September 23 as huge explosions and a barrage of heavy gunfire echoed out of the complex. A thick cloud of black smoke billowed out from the Westgate mall as Kenyan officials said the 50-hour-long siege — which has seen the gunmen massacre at least 62 people and take dozens more hostage — was close to being resolved. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began midday on September 21, when the gunmen marched into the complex, firing grenades and automatic weapons and sending panicked shoppers fleeing. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: Volunteers from the asian-community run for cover on September 23, 2013, after hearing a volley of gunshots at the scene of a siegeof an upmarket shopping mall by al-shebab, Somalia based al-Qaeda linked terror network. Atleast 69 are confirmed dead and 63 recorded in an ongoing hostile take-over of the prestigious Westgate shopping mall that has been claimed by the shebab whose operatives have been engaged in heavy exchanges with a combined force of Kenya’s defence forces an elite police units. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: A Kenyan police officer guides volunteers to cover on September 23, 2013 after hearing a volley of gunshots at the scene of a siegeof an upmarket shopping mall by al-shebab, Somalia based al-Qaeda linked terror network. Atleast 69 are confirmed dead and 63 recorded in an ongoing hostile take-over of the prestigious Westgate shopping mall that has been claimed by the shebab whose operatives have been engaged in heavy exchanges with a combined force of Kenya’s defence forces an elite police units. (Tony Karumba/Getty images)

: Kenyan soldiers take cover after heavy gunfire near Westgate mall in Nairobi on September 23, 2013. Kenyan Defence troops remain inside the mall, in a standoff with Somali militants after they laid siege to the shopping centre shooting and throwing grenades as they entered. Somali Shebab militants on September 23 threatened to kill hostages they are holding in the Nairobi shopping mall as Kenyan troops move to end their siege. (Carl De Souza/Getty images)

: A severly wounded man is rescued by Kenyan troops at the Westgate Mall on September 21, 2013 in Nairobi. Kenyan troops were locked in a fierce firefight with Somali militants inside an upmarket Nairobi shopping mall on September 22 in a final push to end a siege that has left at least 59 dead and some 200 wounded with an unknown number of hostages still being held. Somalia’s Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels said the carnage at the part Israeli-owned complex mall was in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia, where African Union troops are battling the Islamists. (James Quest/Getty Images)

At least 62 dead in seige at Kenyan mall

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