This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/24/nairobi-mall-siege-over-declares-kenya-president

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nairobi mall siege over, declares Kenyan president Nairobi mall siege over, declares Kenyan president
(about 1 hour later)
The four-day siege at Kenya's Westgate shopping mall is over, the country's president declared on Tuesday night in a strongly worded statement of defiance against the terrorist threat to the east African nation. The four-day siege at Kenya's Westgate shopping mall is over, the country's president declared on Tuesday night in a statement of defiance against the terrorist threat to the east African nation.
"We have ashamed and defeated our attackers," President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a televised address to the nation. "That part of our task has been completed by our multi-agency security team … Kenya has stared down evil and triumphed." "We have ashamed and defeated our attackers," President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a televised address. "That part of our task has been completed by our multi-agency security team … Kenya has stared down evil and triumphed."
Declaring three days of mourning, Kenyatta said the nation had experienced "immense" losses and praised the solidarity of Kenyans in response to the attack.Declaring three days of mourning, Kenyatta said the nation had experienced "immense" losses and praised the solidarity of Kenyans in response to the attack.
Kenyatta said that 61 civilians and six members of the security forces had been killed, with a further 62 injured in hospital. Towards the end of the operation, three floors of the complex collapsed and some bodies – including those of some of the terrorists – remained in the rubble, he said. Kenyatta said that 61 civilians and six members of the security forces had been killed, with 62 injured. Towards the end of the operation, three floors of the complex collapsed and some bodies – including those of terrorists – remained in the rubble, he said.
"I promise that we shall have full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone as a national family. These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices, wherever they are.""I promise that we shall have full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone as a national family. These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices, wherever they are."
But while he said "the worst" of the crisis was now over, it was unclear whether Kenyan security forces had finally accounted for all the militants after four days of explosions and gunfire at the mall. But while he said "the worst" of the crisis was now over, it was unclear whether Kenyan security forces had finally accounted for all the militants after four days of explosions and gunfire.
Kenyatta also failed to quell intense speculation that a British woman and several American citizens may have been among the attackers, saying the information could not be confirmed. Kenyatta also failed to quell intense speculation that a British woman and several Americans may have been among the attackers, saying the information could not be confirmed.
"Intelligence reports had suggested that a British woman and two or three American citizens may have been involved. We cannot confirm the details at present," Kenyatta said. Forensic experts were working to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists, he said. "Intelligence reports had suggested that a British woman and two or three American citizens may have been involved. We cannot confirm the details at present," Kenyatta said. Forensic experts were working to identify the terrorists, he said.
A Kenyan security source, who did not want to be named, said that sporadic blasts heard at the mall during the day were controlled explosions carried out by bomb disposal teams, while other units had been assisting paramedics to recover bodies. A Kenyan security source, who did not want to be named, said that sporadic blasts heard at the mall during the day were controlled explosions carried out by bomb disposal teams, and that other units had been assisting paramedics to recover bodies.
"After the bombs and the exchanges of fire the whole place is a mess," he said. "There's burned-out shops and debris everywhere.""After the bombs and the exchanges of fire the whole place is a mess," he said. "There's burned-out shops and debris everywhere."
But that version of events was challenged on Tuesday when al-Qaida-linked jihadist group al Shabaab – which has claimed responsibility for the attack – published a photo which it claimed showed militants still in control of parts of the shopping mall. Later onlookers were sent scurrying for cover hiding under vehicles outside the mall amid sounds of gunfire. Witnesses also reported seeing KDF personnel on the roof of the mall. But that version of events was challenged on Tuesday when al-Qaida-linked jihadist group al Shabaab – which has claimed responsibility for the attack – published a photograph which it claimed showed militants still in control of parts of the mall. Later onlookers were sent scurrying for cover under vehicles outside the mall amid sounds of gunfire. Witnesses also reported seeing Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel on the roof.
Conflicting reports also continued about the involvement of Samantha Lewthwaite, the British Muslim convert married to 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay. Lewthwaite is wanted in Kenya on terrorism charges. Conflicting reports continued about the involvement or otherwise of Samantha Lewthwaite, the British Muslim convert married to 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay. Lewthwaite is wanted in Kenya on terrorism charges.
Witnesses reported seeing a white woman among the attackers at the Westgate mall. Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed said that a Briton who has "done this many times before" was one of the attackers, prompting fierce speculation that Lewthwaite was directly involved. Witnesses reported seeing a white woman among the attackers at the mall. Kenya's foreign minister, Amina Mohamed, said a Briton who has "done this many times before" was one of the attackers, prompting fierce speculation that Lewthwaite was directly involved.
An al-Shebaab spokesman in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday denied a woman had taken part. "It's a groundless lie that a female was among the mujahideen attackers," the spokesman said. "It is all about propaganda disseminated by western media outlets." An al-Shabaab spokesman in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday denied a woman had taken part. "It's a groundless lie that a female was among the mujahideen attackers," the spokesman said. "It is all about propaganda disseminated by western media outlets."
A separate source told the Guardian that 10 of the suspected attackers being held by Kenyan authorities are of Somali ethnic origin. The source said the suspects – all men – were found wearing civilian clothes and claim to have been hiding from the militants. An official involved in the operation said Kenyan authorities were studying CCTV footage of people entering the mall in the hours leading up to the attack. A separate source told the Guardian that 10 of the suspected attackers being held by Kenyan authorities are of Somali ethnic origin. The source said the suspects – all men – were found in civilian clothes and claim to have been hiding from the militants. An official involved in the operation said Kenyan authorities were studying CCTV footage of people entering the mall in the hours leading up to the attack.
Three other individuals, initially suspected as being terrorists but later defined as hostages and released, are believed to be members of the same family – a Kenyan grandfather and his two granddaughters, who had been in hiding and texting with police for the past three days. Three other people, initially suspected as being terrorists but later released, are believed to be members of the same family – a Kenyan man and his two granddaughters, who had been in hiding and texting with police for the past three days. A relative, who asked not to be named, received news of their rescue early on Monday. The family has since been reunited.
A relative, who asked not to be named, received news of their rescue early on Monday. the family has since been reunited. A soldier who took part in the ground-floor operations inside Westgate said Kenyan forces were providing covering fire but had met no hostile fire in return as they searched the vast complex room by room.
A soldier who took part in the ground floor operations inside Westgate said Kenyan forces were providing covering fire but had met no hostile fire in return as they searched the vast complex room by room.
Smoke was seen billowing from the mall area on Tuesday, which the government said was the result of attackers burning mattresses inside. Witnesses said the smoke was clearly coming from the car park area, prompting theories that the KDF were trying to burn their way into the mall through the roof.Smoke was seen billowing from the mall area on Tuesday, which the government said was the result of attackers burning mattresses inside. Witnesses said the smoke was clearly coming from the car park area, prompting theories that the KDF were trying to burn their way into the mall through the roof.
MPs were debating the crisis at Westgate in Kenya's parliament late on Tuesday, with many critical of the government's handling of the crisis and of the security threats posed to Kenya by the situation in Somalia.MPs were debating the crisis at Westgate in Kenya's parliament late on Tuesday, with many critical of the government's handling of the crisis and of the security threats posed to Kenya by the situation in Somalia.
"We have a serious problem in Kenya of guns from Somalia," said Boniface Kinonit Gatobu, MP for Buuri. "Unless we pass a resolution here, unless we make a very concrete decision here today, then this will be nothing but a talk show." "We have a serious problem in Kenya of guns from Somalia," said Boniface Kinoti Gatobu, MP for Buuri. "Unless we pass a resolution here, unless we make a very concrete decision here today, then this will be nothing but a talk show."
As the MPs talked, images of the rescue mission were beginning to emerge. Film footage by one freelance journalist showed terrified shoppers leaving the mall with their hands above their heads. As the MPs talked, images of the rescue mission were beginning to emerge. Film footage shot by a freelance journalist showed terrified shoppers leaving the mall with their hands above their heads.
At one point a man was seen crawling on his belly to rescue a woman with two small children – clearly in shock – who had cowered motionless beside a food stall. The footage also showed people with serious injuries and chest wounds being wheeled out on ambulances.At one point a man was seen crawling on his belly to rescue a woman with two small children – clearly in shock – who had cowered motionless beside a food stall. The footage also showed people with serious injuries and chest wounds being wheeled out on ambulances.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.