30 reportedly killed, 60 wounded in Nairobi hostage-taking saga

As many as 30 people were believed killed and 60 others injured in a shootout on Saturday after unknown heavily-armed attackers stormed a shopping mall in the Westlands Area of the capital Kenya, according to the Red Cross and other estimates. "I was inside the building when I heard the gunmen shout 'lie down, lie down'," Jacky Wameme, an eyewitness, told Anadolu Agency. "I saw about five of them," she said, adding that some of the people ran upstairs while others lay down on the ground. At some point, she said, there was a blackout in the building. The attackers entered the Westgate Mall, not far from the Central Business District, shortly before noon local time. They shot at guards manning a car park before storming the building both through the main entrance and an underground opening, according to witnesses. John Teneko, who was also in the building, said the gunmen "started shooting as soon as they entered the building. Some of them shouted, 'Today you will see', as they shot at some of those who attempted to escape," he told AA. There were also conflicting figures on the number of the attackers, with some suggesting they were ten or more and reportedly dressed in ordinary clothes. The injured were taken to various hospitals in Nairobi, including Kenyatta National Hospital, the Aga Khan and MP Shah Hospitals. The government has sent out an appeal for blood donations to help the injured. Westgate Mall is frequented by wealthy clients during weekends, among them foreigners and employees of international organizations. At the top of the building, a local TV station was in the process of organizing a live entertainment event at the time of the attack. It is normally a popular spot during the weekends. - Area remains sealed off By 7.30 pm, more bodies were still being pulled from the building and others being rescued and taken to hospital. Among those rescued were children and women. But hundreds were still trapped inside, while others were believed to be held hostage by the gunmen, whose motive was not known. The area remained sealed off from early afternoon and even journalists were kept at a distance as the security and rescue operations went on for most of the afternoon and into the early evening. Major shopping malls in Nairobi including, Village Market near the US Embassy and the UN establishment in the Gigiri Area, Galleria and Nakumat, remained closed most of the afternoon. Village Market sent out a press statement saying they had shut their doors to protect their clients and property from any possible danger. Red Cross officials and security officials, who included both police and the army, worked most of the afternoon to rescue those trapped inside. The ground security rescue operations were backed by police and army helicopters that continued hovering over the areas. A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mutea Iringo, at 6 pm local time said 11 people were killed and 25 injured. "It is a very sad situation but the police are fully in charge of the situation. We appeal for calm among Kenyans," said Iringo. He urged the media to report responsible, claiming some of the TV footage being shown live by local TV stations were "insensitive" and "unethical". "I wish to acknowledge the gravity of the security situation at the Westgate area and we are not taking chances," said the official. "We have deployed security personnel, including specialized units, to deal with the situation and have beefed security in all major shopping malls and all major towns," Iringo added in response to concerns that the attack was an act of terrorism.