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Al-Shabab denies women involved in Kenya mall attack | Al-Shabab denies women involved in Kenya mall attack |
(34 minutes later) | |
Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab has denied that any women were involved in the attack on a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. | Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab has denied that any women were involved in the attack on a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. |
Kenya's foreign minister had said a British woman was thought to be among the militants who killed 67 people. | Kenya's foreign minister had said a British woman was thought to be among the militants who killed 67 people. |
Her comments fuelled speculation that British terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite may have been involved. | Her comments fuelled speculation that British terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite may have been involved. |
But in a Twitter post al-Shabab said it "categorically denies" the involvement of any women. | But in a Twitter post al-Shabab said it "categorically denies" the involvement of any women. |
"We have an adequate number of young men who are fully committed and we do not employ our sisters in such military operations," the group said. | "We have an adequate number of young men who are fully committed and we do not employ our sisters in such military operations," the group said. |
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a TV address on Tuesday that the four-day siege at the Westgate shopping centre had come to an end. | Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a TV address on Tuesday that the four-day siege at the Westgate shopping centre had come to an end. |
He confirmed that 61 civilians and six soldiers had died in the attack. | He confirmed that 61 civilians and six soldiers had died in the attack. |
Six Britons are among the dead, and citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China were also killed. | Six Britons are among the dead, and citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China were also killed. |
Nationalities 'unconfirmed' | |
Mr Kenyatta said five of the attackers were shot dead by troops and another 11 suspects were in custody. | Mr Kenyatta said five of the attackers were shot dead by troops and another 11 suspects were in custody. |
Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed had said in an interview for US TV on Monday that a British woman appeared to have been involved in the attack "and I think she has done this many times before". | |
Mr Kenyatta also said intelligence reports suggested possible involvement of a British woman and "two or three" Americans citizens. | |
He added: "We cannot confirm the details at present but forensic experts are working to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists." | |
Earlier at a press conference in Pakistan, Home Secretary Theresa May said she was aware that there had been reports of a British woman being involved, but "until we have seen the investigations completed it is not possible to give further details to confirm or deny that issue". | |
Ms Mohamed's comments led to speculation about the possible involvement in the attack of British terror suspect Ms Lewthwaite - the widow of 7 July suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay. | |
She is known to be in East Africa and is wanted by Kenyan police over alleged links to a terrorist cell that planned to bomb the country's coast. | |
'Heart just stopped' | |
Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had been carried out in retaliation for Kenyan army operations in Somalia. | |
The attack began at about 12:00 local time (10:00 BST) on Saturday, as the shopping centre was entered by militants throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. | |
The next of kin of the six British victims have been informed and are being offered consular support, the Foreign Office (FCO) said. | |
The Metropolitan Police said a team of officers had travelled to Nairobi to help with "post-incident procedures" including gathering scientific evidence and supporting the work of British coroners. | |
While the names of the British victims have not been officially confirmed by the Foreign Office, Louis Bawa, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, told the Daily Telegraph his Kenyan-born wife Zahira and his eight-year-old daughter Jennah had been killed. | |
Mr Bawa said his "heart just stopped" as he looked through photographs of the victims and identified his wife and daughter. | |
Architect Ross Langdon, who had British-Australian citizenship, has also been named as one of the UK victims. | |
Mr Langdon died alongside his partner, Elif Yavuz, a Dutch citizen who was pregnant with their first child. |
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