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Britons 'undoubtedly' caught in Kenya attack, says Hague Britons 'undoubtedly' caught in Kenya attack, says Hague
(about 3 hours later)
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said there are "undoubtedly" British nationals caught up in the terror attack in Kenya's capital Nairobi. Foreign Secretary William Hague has said there are "undoubtedly" British nationals caught up in the attack on a shopping centre in Kenya.
Mr Hague said the attack, which has left at least 39 dead and 150 injured, was "callous and cowardly and brutal". Mr Hague said the attack at the mall in the capital Nairobi, which has left at least 39 dead and 150 injured, was "callous and cowardly and brutal".
His comments came after Number 10 confirmed the Prime Minister had spoken to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta. Earlier, the prime minister spoke to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and offered condolences and assistance.
A rapid deployment team is being sent to Nairobi by the Foreign Office to help in the aftermath of the attack. A rapid deployment team is being sent to Nairobi by the Foreign Office.
Meanwhile, the head of the UK's diplomatic service Sir Simon Fraser said the Foreign Office's crisis team in London would be working through the night and would be on standby to give consular assistance to British citizens. The government's emergency response committee, Cobra, has met to discuss the attacks.
And the head of the UK's diplomatic service, Sir Simon Fraser, said the Foreign Office's crisis team in London would be working through Saturday night and would be on standby to give consular assistance to British citizens.
Britons barricadedBritons barricaded
The Somali-based militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack in which men armed with guns and grenades stormed the Westgate Mall and targeted non-Muslims. The Somali-based militant group al-Shabaab has said it carried out the attack in which men armed with guns and grenades stormed the Westgate Mall and targeted non-Muslims.
It told the BBC it was in response to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.
Hannah Chisholm, a Briton visiting Nairobi, said she and 60 others barricaded themselves into a large storeroom.Hannah Chisholm, a Briton visiting Nairobi, said she and 60 others barricaded themselves into a large storeroom.
She told the BBC: "We kept running to different places but the shots were getting louder so we barricaded ourselves along with about 60 others into a large storeroom. There were children hiding with us as well as someone who had been shot." She told the BBC: "We kept running to different places but the shots were getting louder so we barricaded ourselves along with about 60 others into a large storeroom.
"There were children hiding with us as well as someone who had been shot."
She added: "The gunfire was loud and we were scared but at that point we thought the gunmen were thieves so we assumed they wouldn't try to reach the storeroom."She added: "The gunfire was loud and we were scared but at that point we thought the gunmen were thieves so we assumed they wouldn't try to reach the storeroom."
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre tweeted: "KDF [Kenya Defence Forces] & Special Forces have control of #Westgate 1st and 2nd floors. Parts of the ground floor and basement remain unsecured." Early on Sunday, the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre tweeted: "KDF [Kenya Defence Forces] & Special Forces have control of #Westgate 1st and 2nd floors. Parts of the ground floor and basement remain unsecured."
It confirmed hostages were still being held in these unsecured areas.It confirmed hostages were still being held in these unsecured areas.
Close ties 'Bring stability'
Mr Hague said earlier on Twitter: "UK ties with Kenya very close. Appalled by the attack and my thoughts are with everyone affected by it." A Downing Street spokesman said: "President Kenyatta updated the prime minister on the current situation and explained that Kenyan security forces were bringing the situation under control."
His words were echoed by minister for Africa Mark Simmonds, who condemned the attack and offered his "deep sympathy to those affected". He added that the prime minister had passed on his condolences and said the UK government "were ready to provide any assistance we could".
Mr Hague said "the thoughts of the UK are with the people of Kenya at this terrible moment".
In response to al-Shabaab's statements, he said work to "bring stability to Somalia, to defeat terrorism there, will continue".
He added: "Our High Commission staff in Nairobi are working very hard, visiting hospitals, trying to make sure that they are aware of British nationals who might have been in the area or caught up in this."
The minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, also condemned the attack and offered his "deep sympathy to those affected".
Mr Simmonds said he had spoken to Kenya's foreign minister.Mr Simmonds said he had spoken to Kenya's foreign minister.
Mr Hague confirmed that the government's emergency response committee, Cobra, held a meeting on Saturday afternoon regarding the attacks.