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| Shootout inside Nairobi's Westgate centre 'kills 20' | Shootout inside Nairobi's Westgate centre 'kills 20' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A gun battle inside a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has left at least 20 people dead, the Kenyan Red Cross says. | A gun battle inside a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has left at least 20 people dead, the Kenyan Red Cross says. |
| The gunmen attacked Westgate centre - one of the city's most exclusive. Dozens of shoppers fled, several are still feared trapped inside. | The gunmen attacked Westgate centre - one of the city's most exclusive. Dozens of shoppers fled, several are still feared trapped inside. |
| Some reports suggested it was an attempted robbery - but officials say it might be a "terrorist" attack. | Some reports suggested it was an attempted robbery - but officials say it might be a "terrorist" attack. |
| The Somali militant group al-Shabab had threatened to strike the centre. | The Somali militant group al-Shabab had threatened to strike the centre. |
| They are opposed to Kenya sending troops to fight in Somalia. | They are opposed to Kenya sending troops to fight in Somalia. |
| No group has admitted responsibility. | No group has admitted responsibility. |
| Officers have now surrounded the building in an attempt to evacuate remaining shoppers. A military helicopter has landed nearby. | Officers have now surrounded the building in an attempt to evacuate remaining shoppers. A military helicopter has landed nearby. |
| Police told AFP news agency that gunmen had taken at least seven people hostage. Dozens are reported to have been injured. | |
| Eyewitnesses say masked attackers threw grenades into the building at about midday local time (09:00 GMT). | Eyewitnesses say masked attackers threw grenades into the building at about midday local time (09:00 GMT). |
| Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue told AP news agency that the gunmen had been trying to rob a shop within the mall when the shooting began. | Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue told AP news agency that the gunmen had been trying to rob a shop within the mall when the shooting began. |
| Arjen Westra, who was drinking coffee at the time of the attack, told the BBC he thought the cafe he was in was being targeted by the gunmen. | Arjen Westra, who was drinking coffee at the time of the attack, told the BBC he thought the cafe he was in was being targeted by the gunmen. |
| "I could hear the gunfire moving towards the main entrance of the shopping mall, so some people ran out of our cafe in a kind of panic, and quite a number just fell down as flat as possible on the ground." | "I could hear the gunfire moving towards the main entrance of the shopping mall, so some people ran out of our cafe in a kind of panic, and quite a number just fell down as flat as possible on the ground." |
| Security guards used shopping trolleys to wheel out several wounded children and at least one man, AP reports. | Security guards used shopping trolleys to wheel out several wounded children and at least one man, AP reports. |
| "The gunmen tried to fire at my head but missed. There are definitely many casualties," Sudjar Singh, who works at the shopping centre, told AFP. | "The gunmen tried to fire at my head but missed. There are definitely many casualties," Sudjar Singh, who works at the shopping centre, told AFP. |
| "I saw three of the attackers dressed in black and with covered faces and they were carrying heavy rifles," said another witness. | "I saw three of the attackers dressed in black and with covered faces and they were carrying heavy rifles," said another witness. |
| AFP quoted witnesses as saying the gunmen were speaking Arabic or Somali and executed shoppers. | |
| One Nairobi resident, Anupa, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard the exchange of fire when it happened, and I heard what I thought was a grenade, but I didn't go outside. The whole area is cordoned off." | One Nairobi resident, Anupa, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard the exchange of fire when it happened, and I heard what I thought was a grenade, but I didn't go outside. The whole area is cordoned off." |
| Armed police took cover behind vehicles outside. "We have officers at the scene trying to get out the group shooting inside," a police official told AFP news agency. | Armed police took cover behind vehicles outside. "We have officers at the scene trying to get out the group shooting inside," a police official told AFP news agency. |
| "Officers are approaching the situation with caution because there are innocent civilians inside," he said. | "Officers are approaching the situation with caution because there are innocent civilians inside," he said. |
| The Westgate centre is often frequented by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates. Police have urged residents to stay away from the area and told media outlets to stop live transmissions from the scene. | The Westgate centre is often frequented by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates. Police have urged residents to stay away from the area and told media outlets to stop live transmissions from the scene. |