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| Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall After Long Standoff | Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall After Long Standoff |
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| NAIROBI, Kenya — The bloody standoff at a Kenyan shopping mall entered its fourth day on Tuesday with no clear outcome as gunshots rattled from the beleaguered complex, still wreathed in wafting smoke from fires started a day earlier. | |
| The Somalia-based Shabab militant group, which has taken responsibility for the attack, said an unspecified number of its followers, whom it called “mujahideen,” were “still holding their ground,” Reuters reported, but there was no immediate confirmation of the claim. | |
| The renewed firing, which continued intermittently throughout the morning, contrasted with accounts late Monday, when the sound of hostilities tapered off and the Kenyan news media reported that all the militants had been killed. That assessment may have been premature. | |
| “We’re in control of #Westgate,” Kenya’s Interior Ministry said in a Twitter message late Monday night, referring to the large upscale mall — an emblem of modernity and prosperity frequented by middle class Kenyans and foreigners — that Islamist militants stormed on Saturday, killing more than 60 people. | “We’re in control of #Westgate,” Kenya’s Interior Ministry said in a Twitter message late Monday night, referring to the large upscale mall — an emblem of modernity and prosperity frequented by middle class Kenyans and foreigners — that Islamist militants stormed on Saturday, killing more than 60 people. |
| “We believe all hostages have been released,” the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center said in a Twitter message. “Special forces and KDF soldiers combing the building. Situation of hostiles to be confirmed.” | “We believe all hostages have been released,” the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center said in a Twitter message. “Special forces and KDF soldiers combing the building. Situation of hostiles to be confirmed.” |
| Among the militants were two or three young American men who appeared to be of Somali or Arab origin, Kenya’s foreign minister, Amina Mohamed, said Monday. In an interview on PBS, Ms. Mohamed said the American attackers were originally from Minnesota or Missouri. “That just goes to underline the global nature of the war that we’re fighting,” she said. | Among the militants were two or three young American men who appeared to be of Somali or Arab origin, Kenya’s foreign minister, Amina Mohamed, said Monday. In an interview on PBS, Ms. Mohamed said the American attackers were originally from Minnesota or Missouri. “That just goes to underline the global nature of the war that we’re fighting,” she said. |
| The State Department’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said: “We have no definitive evidence of the nationalities or identities of the perpetrators at this time. We will continue to look into these reports.” | |
| Kenyan forces have struggled since Saturday to vanquish the militants, who, after killing shoppers, holed up in various corners of the Westgate mall with military-grade weaponry. Hundreds of elite Kenyan troops — backed by armored personnel carriers, helicopters, planes and security officials from Britain, France, Israel and the United States — have been deployed, but the militants, estimated to number from 10 to 15, refused to surrender and held their ground. | Kenyan forces have struggled since Saturday to vanquish the militants, who, after killing shoppers, holed up in various corners of the Westgate mall with military-grade weaponry. Hundreds of elite Kenyan troops — backed by armored personnel carriers, helicopters, planes and security officials from Britain, France, Israel and the United States — have been deployed, but the militants, estimated to number from 10 to 15, refused to surrender and held their ground. |
| Kenyan officials have repeatedly tried to reassure the country — and the world — that they are bringing the crisis under control, mindful of the damage to the nation’s image as a cornerstone of stability in an often turbulent region. | Kenyan officials have repeatedly tried to reassure the country — and the world — that they are bringing the crisis under control, mindful of the damage to the nation’s image as a cornerstone of stability in an often turbulent region. |
| “This will end tonight,” Kenyan officials had declared as a major rescue operation got under way on Sunday evening. But shortly thereafter, three Kenyan commandos were shot and killed at close range and several hostages were killed as Kenyan forces tried to move in on militants hiding in a dark corner of the mall, Western officials said. | “This will end tonight,” Kenyan officials had declared as a major rescue operation got under way on Sunday evening. But shortly thereafter, three Kenyan commandos were shot and killed at close range and several hostages were killed as Kenyan forces tried to move in on militants hiding in a dark corner of the mall, Western officials said. |
| When The Standard, one of Kenya’s biggest newspapers, hit the stands on Monday with the headline, “The Final Assault,” the sound of gunfire and explosives was still echoing through central Nairobi, spreading even more fear among Kenyans, who have been shocked and demoralized by the events over the past three days. A cone of black smoke rising from the roof of the mall could be seen like a signal fire from all around the city. | When The Standard, one of Kenya’s biggest newspapers, hit the stands on Monday with the headline, “The Final Assault,” the sound of gunfire and explosives was still echoing through central Nairobi, spreading even more fear among Kenyans, who have been shocked and demoralized by the events over the past three days. A cone of black smoke rising from the roof of the mall could be seen like a signal fire from all around the city. |
| Kenya is a crucial American partner, its security forces working closely with their Western counterparts to contain Islamist militants in the region. Now Kenya’s capital, considered an oasis of prosperity in this part of Africa and an important base for Western embassies and businesses, has become a battleground in the conflict, and there is growing concern that this attack will not be the last. | Kenya is a crucial American partner, its security forces working closely with their Western counterparts to contain Islamist militants in the region. Now Kenya’s capital, considered an oasis of prosperity in this part of Africa and an important base for Western embassies and businesses, has become a battleground in the conflict, and there is growing concern that this attack will not be the last. |
| Several witnesses said that some of the ringleaders of the assault — in which masked gunmen moved methodically through the crowded mall on Saturday, killing men, women and children — may have escaped during the initial confusion. One witness said that an assailant quickly tore off his clothes and changed into a new outfit before running out, hands raised, blending in with a crowd of fleeing civilians. | Several witnesses said that some of the ringleaders of the assault — in which masked gunmen moved methodically through the crowded mall on Saturday, killing men, women and children — may have escaped during the initial confusion. One witness said that an assailant quickly tore off his clothes and changed into a new outfit before running out, hands raised, blending in with a crowd of fleeing civilians. |
| Security officials in Nairobi said that two other militants — both women who appeared to be directing other assailants during the killings — also managed to escape after the initial stage of the attack, raising fears that well-trained terrorists could be on the loose in Nairobi. Several witnesses have said that some of the militants were clearly not African and may have been from Western countries. | Security officials in Nairobi said that two other militants — both women who appeared to be directing other assailants during the killings — also managed to escape after the initial stage of the attack, raising fears that well-trained terrorists could be on the loose in Nairobi. Several witnesses have said that some of the militants were clearly not African and may have been from Western countries. |
| Kenya’s security forces have a reputation for being low paid and underequipped, and they seem to have been ill-prepared for a complex hostage situation against die-hard militants like this. According to several Western officials, the Kenyans initially rebuffed offers of assistance from the American government and turned instead to the Israelis, who dispatched advisers from the Israeli Defense Forces. Those advisers have been working closely with the Kenyan commandos inside the mall, helping plan specific tactical operations, though officials said the Israeli advisers had not engaged in any combat and had stayed out of public view. | |
| The American, French and British officials have been left with a more back-seat role from a command center just down the street from the Westgate mall, helping the Kenyans with the investigation of the attack and some intelligence matters, a high-ranking Kenyan official said Monday. | The American, French and British officials have been left with a more back-seat role from a command center just down the street from the Westgate mall, helping the Kenyans with the investigation of the attack and some intelligence matters, a high-ranking Kenyan official said Monday. |
| “There’s too much consultation going on,” said the Kenyan official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “This should have been a small rescue operation, not preparing for war.” | “There’s too much consultation going on,” said the Kenyan official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “This should have been a small rescue operation, not preparing for war.” |
| On Monday afternoon, Kenyan security officials acknowledged that the effort to end the standoff had taken longer than expected, though they offered a different account of their setbacks, saying that about 10 Kenyan soldiers had been injured but none killed. | On Monday afternoon, Kenyan security officials acknowledged that the effort to end the standoff had taken longer than expected, though they offered a different account of their setbacks, saying that about 10 Kenyan soldiers had been injured but none killed. |
| The Shabab, a brutal Somali extremist group that had at least 20 fighters from the United States in 2010, many of them young Somali-Americans from a gritty part of Minneapolis, has said the attack was revenge for Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia, which began in 2011 when Kenya sent thousands of troops across the border to push back the Shabab. | |
| Three years ago, the group also claimed credit for the coordinated bombings that killed more than 70 people in Uganda as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup, calling it retribution for Uganda’s decision to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s effort to stabilize the country. | Three years ago, the group also claimed credit for the coordinated bombings that killed more than 70 people in Uganda as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup, calling it retribution for Uganda’s decision to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s effort to stabilize the country. |
| But the possible presence of militants from outside of Africa in the mall attack — and the way the assailants fended off attempts to dislodge them — has raised questions about the Shabab’s latest claims. Some Western security officials are beginning to wonder if other terrorist groups may be involved. | But the possible presence of militants from outside of Africa in the mall attack — and the way the assailants fended off attempts to dislodge them — has raised questions about the Shabab’s latest claims. Some Western security officials are beginning to wonder if other terrorist groups may be involved. |
| “This whole thing seems more advanced than anything the Shabab has ever done,” said one Western security official, who did not want to be identified because the operations were still continuing. | “This whole thing seems more advanced than anything the Shabab has ever done,” said one Western security official, who did not want to be identified because the operations were still continuing. |
| “They are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world,” said Julius Karangi, chief of the Kenyan general staff. | “They are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world,” said Julius Karangi, chief of the Kenyan general staff. |
| The five-story Westgate shopping mall sits in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, tucked among winding forested roads. Onlookers crept through the trees as the smoke billowed up, trying to get a closer look. Jittery police officers used tear gas to drive them back and keep the roads clear for the heavy military vehicles entering and exiting the secured area throughout the day. | The five-story Westgate shopping mall sits in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, tucked among winding forested roads. Onlookers crept through the trees as the smoke billowed up, trying to get a closer look. Jittery police officers used tear gas to drive them back and keep the roads clear for the heavy military vehicles entering and exiting the secured area throughout the day. |
| On Monday afternoon, squads of troops rushed inside the burning building, and long bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, causing onlookers blocks away to drop to the ground. | On Monday afternoon, squads of troops rushed inside the burning building, and long bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, causing onlookers blocks away to drop to the ground. |
| “We are also closing in on the attackers,” David Kimaiyo, inspector general of the National Police Service, said in a Twitter post earlier on Monday. | “We are also closing in on the attackers,” David Kimaiyo, inspector general of the National Police Service, said in a Twitter post earlier on Monday. |
| The attack killed people from many countries, including Britain, Canada, China, France, Ghana and India. Many Kenyans fear that the crisis could seriously hurt the economy, which is fueled by tourism and outside investment and is highly vulnerable to swings in perception. Kenya’s currency fell against the dollar on Monday. | The attack killed people from many countries, including Britain, Canada, China, France, Ghana and India. Many Kenyans fear that the crisis could seriously hurt the economy, which is fueled by tourism and outside investment and is highly vulnerable to swings in perception. Kenya’s currency fell against the dollar on Monday. |
| On Monday, reflecting the breadth of the crisis, judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague took the unusual step of suspending for one week the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on charges of crimes against humanity so that he could return home to assist in the government’s response. | On Monday, reflecting the breadth of the crisis, judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague took the unusual step of suspending for one week the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on charges of crimes against humanity so that he could return home to assist in the government’s response. |
| “We have been assaulted by hateful, unthinking cowards,” Mr. Ruto said at the airport upon his return. | “We have been assaulted by hateful, unthinking cowards,” Mr. Ruto said at the airport upon his return. |
| “They work for the devil, we work for a living God,” he added. “We shall defeat them. We shall defeat them.” | “They work for the devil, we work for a living God,” he added. “We shall defeat them. We shall defeat them.” |
Reporting was contributed by Reuben Kyama and Tyler Hicks from Nairobi; Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem; Mark Mazzetti from Washington; Mohammed Ibrahim from Mogadishu, Somalia; William K. Rashbaum from New York; and Alan Cowell from London. | Reporting was contributed by Reuben Kyama and Tyler Hicks from Nairobi; Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem; Mark Mazzetti from Washington; Mohammed Ibrahim from Mogadishu, Somalia; William K. Rashbaum from New York; and Alan Cowell from London. |