KENYA:An assault by security forces to end the siege on Westgate Mall in Nairobiwas on the cards Sunday evening, more than 24-hours after the terrorist attack that has united a grieving nation. The death toll from the Saturday raid by gunmen on the bustling upmarket shopping centre yesterday climbed to 68 â as 29 other fatalities were reported â with more than 175 others injured. But the casualties could increase after soldiers who were clearing the lower floor last night reported stumbling on more bodies strewn on the floor. Authorities said more than 1,000 people had escaped the brazen gun attack by the terrorists estimated at between 10 and 15 who struck at 11am on Saturday. Minutes after a televised address by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, helicopters hovered over the building amid loud explosions. It was unclear whether the final assault against the terrorists was underway. In a show of unity, the President joined other leaders, including his challengers in the March 4 presidential elections, Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi, for a press conference at State House, Nairobi. Rapid assault Reports indicated the gang was holed up in one of the rooms with bulletproof windows. Sources told The Standard the siege was drawn out, as security forces were wary of storming the building in case the attackers had booby-trapped it for a suicide mission. Also, it emerged that the move by security forces was strategic to wear off the assailants rather than mount a rapid assault for fear of causing more casualties. On Sunday, President Uhuru said there were about 10 to 15 armed terrorists inside the building as well as âmany unarmed, badly shaken, innocent civilians,â underscoring the apparent tactical restraint by forces. The President explained that the criminals were all located in one place within the building. âWith the professionals on site, I assure Kenyans that we have as good a chance to successfully neutralize the terrorists as we can hope for,â he added. âWe have reports of women as well as male attackers. We cannot confirm details on this,â President Uhuru said. âOur multi-agency response unit has had to delicately balance the pressure to contain the criminals with the need to keep our people still held in the building safe,â he added. The commander-in-chief said despite the drawn- out siege, âI am satisfied that our disciplined forces have responded in as professional and effective manner as the circumstances have allowed.â The President said among 59 people killed in âthe evil and cowardly act of terrorismâ were his close relatives. âAs your president, as a leader and as a Kenyan, I feel the pain of every life we have lost, and share your grief at our nationâs loss. My nephew and his fiancée are among those who died in this attack,â President Kenyatta said. âThese are young, lovely people I personally knew and loved. Many of us have lost loved ones. Let us mourn them all as one nation, and keep them always in remembrance and prayer,â he added. Raila, the former Prime Minister, condemned the attack and an attempt to incite religious disharmony. Heinous attack âThere is an attempt to divide Kenyans along religious lines. Kenyans have vowed to be united irrespective of their religious differences and no attempt by foreigners will bear any different results,â Raila said. Before the televised address, the President and the ex-premier had visited victims of the heinous attack at MP Shah and Aga Khan hospitals. Meanwhile yesterday more details of how the gunmen executed their murderous plot emerged. A review of CCTV cameras installed at the busy shopping mall revealed the gunmen launched a two-pronged attack: bursting through the front and rear of the upmarket facility. They came in three salon cars. Witnesses reported they were heavily armed, with at least one witness saying one of the gunman spotted a magazine. The first gang attacked a café that is at the entrance of the mall with gunfire and a grenade before storming into the building. Another gang of four terrorists, wearing the Arafat tarban, unleashed terror at the parking yard after breaking through the barrier to the main entrance. At the gate, they killed a manager with the Securex Security Group. They then ran upstairs through the ramp to the upper floor where the Radio Africa Groupâs East FM was hosting a party. The Head of State thanked Kenyans for closing ranks and helping out in the crisis. âLet us defeat them with our unity. By responding quickly and generously to distress calls, we have triumphed. By standing in long lines all over the city to give blood, donating money through our mobile devices, buying and distributing food, blankets and beverages to the affected, we have ashamed and defeated our attackers.â
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 04:40:45 +0000
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