The death toll at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall has risen to 59, just a day after terrorists took over the mall, lobbed grenades and sprayed bullets on shoppers. By nightfall on Saturday, the Kenyan authorities put the death toll at 39. The National Security Advisory Council –the top decision-making organ in so far as the country’s security is concerned —told journalists on Sunday at noon that the death toll had risen to 59. The Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Joseph ole Lenku says the siege at the mall continues, but the security forces are in a “delicate” rescue mission that has seen over 1,000 people rescued from the mall since the Saturday morning attack. “The operation is very delicate because our objective is to make sure that the Kenyans who are still in the mall are evacuated safely,” said Lenku. Many of those injured, he added, had been sent to hospitals, where they were treated and discharged. He pledged the government’s support to the families of the bereaved and all the victims. “The government will go out of its way to make sure we don’t lose innocent lives. It is a delicate balance, but the security agencies are making sure that the balance is achieved while at the same time trying to get hold of the culprits who are still in the building,” said Lenku. Lenku was flanked by the country’s top cop David Kimaiyo; Spy Chief Michael Gichangi; the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Julius Karangi; the Director of Criminal Investigation Ndegwa Muhoro and the Cabinet Secretary for Defence Raychelle Omamo. “We are yet to establish the details of the attackers…we are working on their identities,” said Lenku. The security chiefs were keen to avoid specifics on the state of those trapped in the building, and they put the number of terrorists at between 10 and 15 people. Lenku added that the authorities had taken over the CCTV control room from which they were monitoring the situation. The Kenyan authorities said they appreciated the support from global leaders. “The security agencies are in full control of the situation… please allow us to go and plan the next stage of the operation. We are now very clear of what is happening in the building,” said Lenku. Latest Stories Recommended
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 16:00:01 +0000
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