Nairobi mall shooting may be "terrorist attack" - government
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Gunmen stormed a shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday killing at least 20 people in what Kenya's government said could be a terrorist attack, and sending scores fleeing into shops, a cinema and onto the streets in search of safety.
Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started as soldiers surrounded the mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.
Police helicopters circled above the mall as armed police shouted "get out! get out!" and scores of shoppers fled the building. Smoke poured out of one of the mall's entrances and witnesses said they heard grenade blasts.
Others said they saw about five armed assailants storm the beige stone Westgate shopping mall.
Kenya's interior ministry described the incident as a possible "attack by terrorists".
At l
Gunmen stormed a shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday killing at least 20 people in what Kenya's government said could be a terrorist attack, and sending scores fleeing into shops, a cinema and onto the streets in search of safety.
Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started as soldiers surrounded the mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.
Police helicopters circled above the mall as armed police shouted "get out! get out!" and scores of shoppers fled the building. Smoke poured out of one of the mall's entrances and witnesses said they heard grenade blasts.
Others said they saw about five armed assailants storm the beige stone Westgate shopping mall.
Kenya's interior ministry described the incident as a possible "attack by terrorists".
At l