Kenya has been at a standstill for the past 24 hours as its elite mall in Nairobi continues to be under a violent siege. People have been gruesomely killed in the country’s worst terrorist attack to date. 59 are now confirmed dead and 175 found injured, and there are presumed to be at least 10-15 gunmen who have taken 30 hostages inside in the mall.
As previously reported, Saturday morning violence erupted in Kenya as gunmen entered Nairobi’s elite mall and went on a shooting rampage.
CNN reported that the Al-Queda terrorist group, Al-Shabaab who are from Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Westgate Mall. In a message on its Twitter feed, the group made it clear they are not backing down and said "all Muslims" were taken out of the mall before the attack took place.
In the tweet that was posted on Sunday they added, "When justice is denied, it must be enforced. Kenyans were relatively safe in their cities before they invaded us & killed Muslims #Westgate."
As of Sunday morning, soldiers are still standing outside and guarding the mall. State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu told reporters, “We want to do everything possible, and the security people are doing everything possible to make sure we lose no more lives."
Most of the people who have died are of Kenyan decent. However authorities say that the mall was filled with foreign nationals. Several Americans were injured but there are no American causalities.
Personnel from The U.S. Embassy are staying on sight this Sunday to help any Americans. All U.S. citizens in Kenya can register online for help with travel and security.
Reuters confirms that two French citizens and two Canadians were among those killed in the attack, including a 29-year-old diplomat and Ghanaian diplomat and poet, Kofi Awoonor.
Among the dead are children and the fatalities range in age from 2 to 78. Many victims were at the mall for a cooking competition when terrorists started shooting. More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the mall.
Israeli security forces are currently in Nairobi and at the scene figuring out how to help Kenyans end the terror. The Al Shabaab group has been taunting security forces, saying on its official Twitter handle @HSM_Press this morning, "10 hours have passed and the Mujahideen are still strong inside #Westgate Mall and still holding their ground. All praise is due to Allah!" Its account on Twitter is now currently suspended.
Kenya's President, Uhuru Kenyatta, referred to them as "the despicable perpetrators of this cowardly act," and said they will be brought to justice.
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