Extremists stormed a
luxury hotel in Kenya’s capital on Tuesday, setting off thunderous explosions
and gunning down people at cafe tables in an attack claimed by Africa’s
deadliest Islamic militant group. A police officer said at least 15 people had
died.
luxury hotel in Kenya’s capital on Tuesday, setting off thunderous explosions
and gunning down people at cafe tables in an attack claimed by Africa’s
deadliest Islamic militant group. A police officer said at least 15 people had
died.
“It is terrible.
What I have seen is terrible,” said Charles Njenga, who ran from a scene
of blood, broken glass, burning vehicles and pillars of black smoke.
What I have seen is terrible,” said Charles Njenga, who ran from a scene
of blood, broken glass, burning vehicles and pillars of black smoke.
Al-Shabaab — the
Somalia-based group that carried out the 2013 attack at the nearby Westgate
Mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead — claimed responsibility for the
carnage at the DusitD2 hotel complex, which includes bars, restaurants, offices
and banks and is in a well-to-do neighborhood with many American, European and
Indian expatriates.
Somalia-based group that carried out the 2013 attack at the nearby Westgate
Mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead — claimed responsibility for the
carnage at the DusitD2 hotel complex, which includes bars, restaurants, offices
and banks and is in a well-to-do neighborhood with many American, European and
Indian expatriates.
A Kenyan police officer
said 15 bodies had been taken to the morgue. He spoke on condition of anonymity
because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. The US State Department
confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed, but did not release
the victim’s identity. Al-Shabab asserted that 47 people were killed but its
Shahada news agency post gave no details.
said 15 bodies had been taken to the morgue. He spoke on condition of anonymity
because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. The US State Department
confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed, but did not release
the victim’s identity. Al-Shabab asserted that 47 people were killed but its
Shahada news agency post gave no details.
Authorities sent special
forces into the hotel to flush out the gunmen. Late Tuesday night, about eight
hours after the siege began, Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i said all of the
buildings affected had been secured and that security forces were mopping up.
forces into the hotel to flush out the gunmen. Late Tuesday night, about eight
hours after the siege began, Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i said all of the
buildings affected had been secured and that security forces were mopping up.
“I would like to
reiterate that the situation is under control and the country is safe,” he
said.
reiterate that the situation is under control and the country is safe,” he
said.
However, more gunfire was
heard about an hour later, Kenyan broadcaster NTV reported. Some family members
said they had been in touch with loved ones still hiding inside the complex,
waiting to be rescued.
heard about an hour later, Kenyan broadcaster NTV reported. Some family members
said they had been in touch with loved ones still hiding inside the complex,
waiting to be rescued.
Early Wednesday, Kenya’s
Interior Ministry said a tweet that all buildings had been secured and there
was no further threat to the public.
Interior Ministry said a tweet that all buildings had been secured and there
was no further threat to the public.
“To God be the
Glory. We have been rescued. Over 50 people in my group. No injuries Thank you
all for the support and prayers. Thanks You KDF,” tweeted a Kenyan
businesswoman, Aggie Asiimwe Konde. KDF stands for the Kenya Defence Forces.
Glory. We have been rescued. Over 50 people in my group. No injuries Thank you
all for the support and prayers. Thanks You KDF,” tweeted a Kenyan
businesswoman, Aggie Asiimwe Konde. KDF stands for the Kenya Defence Forces.
Authorities did not say
how many attackers there were — or what happened to them — though Kenya’s
Citizen TV aired security-camera footage that showed at least four heavily
armed men in dark-colored, paramilitary-style gear.
how many attackers there were — or what happened to them — though Kenya’s
Citizen TV aired security-camera footage that showed at least four heavily
armed men in dark-colored, paramilitary-style gear.
A police officer who
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the
media said bodies were seen in restaurants downstairs and in offices upstairs,
but “there was no time to count the dead”.
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the
media said bodies were seen in restaurants downstairs and in offices upstairs,
but “there was no time to count the dead”.
Survivors
A witness who gave his name
only as Ken said he saw five bodies at the hotel entrance. Other people were
shouting for help and “when we rushed back to try to rescue them, gunshots
started coming from upstairs, and we had to duck because they were targeting us
and we could see two guys shooting”, he said.
only as Ken said he saw five bodies at the hotel entrance. Other people were
shouting for help and “when we rushed back to try to rescue them, gunshots
started coming from upstairs, and we had to duck because they were targeting us
and we could see two guys shooting”, he said.
The co-ordinated assault
began with an explosion that targeted three vehicles outside a bank, and a
suicide bombing in the hotel lobby that severely wounded a number of guests,
said Kenya’s national police chief, Joseph Boinnet.
began with an explosion that targeted three vehicles outside a bank, and a
suicide bombing in the hotel lobby that severely wounded a number of guests,
said Kenya’s national police chief, Joseph Boinnet.
Survivors reported
hearing a shattering blast and saw people mowed down by gunmen as they sat in a
cafe. Victims were left slumped on tables.
hearing a shattering blast and saw people mowed down by gunmen as they sat in a
cafe. Victims were left slumped on tables.
“We were changing
our shifts, and that is when I heard a loud blast and people were
screaming,” said Enoch Kibet, who works as a cleaner at the cafe and
managed to crawl out a basement gate. “I couldn’t believe I was alive. The
blast was so loud and shook the whole complex.”
our shifts, and that is when I heard a loud blast and people were
screaming,” said Enoch Kibet, who works as a cleaner at the cafe and
managed to crawl out a basement gate. “I couldn’t believe I was alive. The
blast was so loud and shook the whole complex.”
Kenyan hospitals appealed
for blood donations even as the number of wounded remained unclear.
for blood donations even as the number of wounded remained unclear.
Associated Press video
from inside the hotel showed Kenyan security officers searching the building
and scared workers emerging from hiding while gunfire could still be heard.
Some climbed out a window by ladder. One man got up from the floor where he appeared
to be trying to hide under a piece of wood paneling, then showed his ID.
from inside the hotel showed Kenyan security officers searching the building
and scared workers emerging from hiding while gunfire could still be heard.
Some climbed out a window by ladder. One man got up from the floor where he appeared
to be trying to hide under a piece of wood paneling, then showed his ID.
Wealthy Kenyans and
foreigners
foreigners
As officers searched
luxury fashion displays, wounded people were carried away on stretchers.
luxury fashion displays, wounded people were carried away on stretchers.
Like the attack at the
Westgate Mall, this one appeared aimed at wealthy Kenyans and foreigners. It
came a day after a magistrate ruled that three men must stand trial in
connection with the Westgate Mall siege.
Westgate Mall, this one appeared aimed at wealthy Kenyans and foreigners. It
came a day after a magistrate ruled that three men must stand trial in
connection with the Westgate Mall siege.
Al-Shabaab has vowed
retribution against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight it since 2011.
Tuesday’s violence came three years to the day after al-Shabaab extremists
attacked a Kenyan military base in Somalia, killing scores of people.
retribution against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia to fight it since 2011.
Tuesday’s violence came three years to the day after al-Shabaab extremists
attacked a Kenyan military base in Somalia, killing scores of people.
The al-Qaeda-linked group
has killed hundreds of people in Kenya. In the deadliest attack, al-Shabaab
claimed responsibility for an assault on Kenya’s Garissa University in 2015
that killed 147 people, mostly students.
has killed hundreds of people in Kenya. In the deadliest attack, al-Shabaab
claimed responsibility for an assault on Kenya’s Garissa University in 2015
that killed 147 people, mostly students.
The latest carnage
demonstrated al-Shabaab’s continued ability to carry out spectacular acts of
bloodshed despite a dramatic increase in US airstrikes against it under
President Donald Trump.
demonstrated al-Shabaab’s continued ability to carry out spectacular acts of
bloodshed despite a dramatic increase in US airstrikes against it under
President Donald Trump.
Tourism — an important
source of revenue in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy — has suffered because
of the violence.
source of revenue in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy — has suffered because
of the violence.
Gunfire could be heard
for hours after Tuesday’s attack began. Some people ducked behind cars,
screaming, while others took cover behind fountains and other features at the
lush complex. A bomb disposal unit was called in, and police blew up a car they
said had explosives inside. A grenade was seen in a hallway.
for hours after Tuesday’s attack began. Some people ducked behind cars,
screaming, while others took cover behind fountains and other features at the
lush complex. A bomb disposal unit was called in, and police blew up a car they
said had explosives inside. A grenade was seen in a hallway.
Is your new year off to a
rough start?
rough start?
Dozens of people were
rushed to safety as plainclothes officers went from shop to shop in the
complex. Some people held up their hands to show they were unarmed.
rushed to safety as plainclothes officers went from shop to shop in the
complex. Some people held up their hands to show they were unarmed.
A Kenyan intelligence
official said the country had been on high alert since November, with
information about potential attacks on high-profile targets in Nairobi. The
official was not authorised to talk to the media and spoke on condition of
anonymity.
official said the country had been on high alert since November, with
information about potential attacks on high-profile targets in Nairobi. The
official was not authorised to talk to the media and spoke on condition of
anonymity.
Despite the repeated
attacks, the Kenya-Somalia border remains porous, with al-Shabaab extremists
able to easily bribe their way across, according to a UN panel of experts.
attacks, the Kenya-Somalia border remains porous, with al-Shabaab extremists
able to easily bribe their way across, according to a UN panel of experts.
The hotel complex, owned
by Thailand’s Dusit International chain in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, is
about 2km from Westgate Mall on a relatively quiet, tree-lined road in what is
considered one of the most secure parts of the city. The hotel’s website says
it is “cocooned away from the hustle and bustle in a secure and peaceful
haven.”
by Thailand’s Dusit International chain in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, is
about 2km from Westgate Mall on a relatively quiet, tree-lined road in what is
considered one of the most secure parts of the city. The hotel’s website says
it is “cocooned away from the hustle and bustle in a secure and peaceful
haven.”
On Monday, the hotel
promoted its spa by tweeting: “Is your new year off to a rough
start?”
promoted its spa by tweeting: “Is your new year off to a rough
start?”