Westgate shopping mall attack

Westgate shopping mall shooting
Westgate shopping mall in July 2007
Location	Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya
Coordinates	1°15′24.49″S 36°48′11.82″E
Date	21 September 2013 (2013-09-21) ~12:00–12:30 onwards for at least 20 hours (UTC+3)
Attack type	Mass murder, shooting
Weapons	AK-47s Grenades
Deaths	59+
Injured	At least 175
Perpetrator	Al-Shabaab

On 21 September 2013, 10 as yet unidentified gunmen attacked the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, fatally shooting at least 59 people, according to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and wounding about 150 more in a mass shooting. Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident, with many media outlets suspecting the jihadist group in line with their warnings following Operation Linda Nchi in 2011–2012. Similarly, their Twitter account blamed Kenya for inviting the incident. The attack is still considered ongoing with hostages being held.

Background

A week before the incident, and a month after United Nations warnings of attacks, Kenyan police claimed to have disrupted a major attack in its final stages of planning after arresting two people with suicide vests packed with ball bearings, grenades and AK-47 assault rifles. The two suspects were from a Nairobi neighbourhood where Somali immigrants reside. A manhunt was also launched for eight more suspects.

Shooting

On Saturday 21 September 2013 at about noon (local time), masked gunmen attacked the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Westlands district as it was hosting a children's day event. The fighting was ongoing with armed police at least 20 hours later. The gunmen reportedly carried assault rifles and wore combat fatigues. There were additional reports of grenade explosions. Police surrounded the area and urged residents to stay away. A report indicated that about 80 people were trapped in the basement, but police said that they had escorted some shoppers to safety and were trying to capture the gunmen. The Secretary-General of the Kenyan Red Cross Abbas Gullet said that rescue workers could not reach some of the patrons in the mall. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo wrote on Twitter that "police at the scene and the area is surrounded."

Rob Vandijk, an employee of the Dutch embassy, said that while he was eating at a restaurant the attack commenced with grenades and was then followed by gunfire as patrons screamed as they dropped to the ground. Other witnesses said the attack began at the outdoor seating area of Artcaffe at the front of the mall. An Artcaffe employee, Patrick Kuria, said: "We started by hearing gunshots downstairs and outside. Later we heard them come inside. We took cover. Then we saw two gunmen wearing black turbans. I saw them shoot." Some of the casualties were shot at the entrance to the mall after gunfire moved outside and a standoff then commenced with police. Ambulances were present at the mall as they started moving emerging victims. Reports indicated the presence of children, including patrons carrying small children. Mall security guards used shopping carts to ferry out wounded children.

Nation TV footage showed dozens of people escaping from a back entrance. Bloomberg correspondent Marco Lui was on the second floor of the mall when the attack started; he said that two explosions happened within about five minutes of each other. "We heard a noise from the ground floor and people started running to the parking area on the rooftop. They were panicking and then the second blast went off and people were even more panicked." Other eyewitnesses said that in addition to grenades, the attackers used AK-47s. Twenty people were rescued from a toy shop on the upper floor, while a woman writing on Twitter under the name "Shirley Ghetto" was hiding under mattresses in the mall, and asked: "Is it safe to come out from hiding? It's quiet. Have the cops tackled the culprits? Please keep me updated. #Westgate.." As the Kenyan army troops arrived, they used tear gas to try and smoke out the attackers from the cinema complex. Vehicles riddled with bullet holes were left abandoned in front of the mall. Kimaiyo said: "Our officers are on the ground carrying out an evacuation of those inside as they search for the attackers who are said to be inside." A police officer said that the gunmen were barricaded inside the Nakumatt supermarket. He said that there were three bodies there while he pointed to a pool of blood by a children's shoe shop. He then pointed to hamburger bar where music still played and indicated more bodies were found there.

By nightfall, the mall remained sealed off to the public while security services searched floor by floor for the gunmen, who were believed to be inside with the hostages. People continued to trickle out from hiding places. Internal Security Minister Mutea Iringo then said that the government was in control of the situation. Kimaiyo also wrote on Twitter that several of the other assailants had been pinned down after security forces moved into the mall. After midnight the hostages were still held. President Uhuru Kenyatta said the security operation was "delicate" and that a top priority was to safeguard hostages. The fighting continued at 1:30 AM the next day. At about 2:30 AM—an hour after reporting five "visibly shaken" hostages' release—the National Disaster Operation Centre wrote on Twitter "major operations underway." On Sunday, about 24 hours after the begin of the attack, gunfire was still heard at the mall.

Victims

At least 59 people have died and 175 wounded, according to the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of the Interior Joseph Ole Lenku. Eyewitnesses were reported to have seen 50 bodies in the mall. In addition, 36 people were taken hostage at the supermarket and a jewellery store; other eyewitnesses also said that they had seen dozens wounded. An unnamed local hospital reported that it was overwhelmed with the number of wounded being brought in and that it had consequently diverted victims to a second facility. Three British citizens were killed in the mall. The French government confirmed that two of its citizens were killed. Two Canadians were killed, one of whom was a liasion officer with the Canadian Border Services Agency. Ghanain poet Kofi Awoonor and a Chinese woman were also killed. The United States State Department reported that four US citizens were injured in the attack. Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimenia wrote on Twitter that 293 people had received treatment at three hospitals in the area and that they "are appealing for more blood." The National Disaster Operation Centre said that the wounded ranged in age from two to 78 as it urged people to "remember them in your prayers." India's External Affairs Ministry confirmed that two Indians have been killed and four others injured in the attacks. South Africa's Department of International Relations confirmed that one South African was killed in the attack.

Among the confirmed victims was Radio Africa Group personality Ruhila Adatia-Sood. Another Victim was the 29 year old Anne-Marie Desloges, who worked as Secretary for the Canadian Embassy in Nairobi.

Investigation

British police officers who are based in Kenya arrived on the scene to help Kenyan counter terrorism officials and an investigation had begun. Security was also tightened in public places across Kenya. Kenyan security forces arrested one of the gunmen, according to the Kenyan presidency's Twitter account.

Perpetrator

An eyewitness said that the attackers had told Muslims to leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted. The incident follows warnings from Al-Shabaab in late 2011 that it would carry out attacks in Kenya in retaliation for Operation Linda Nchi as part of AMISOM. Others were asked "who's the prophet's mother?" to distinguish Muslims from non-Muslims.

Sergeant Major Frank Mugungu said he saw four male and one female attackers, all of them black, one Somali, while others might have been Kenyan and of other nationalities. Witnesses claimed that they heard Arabic or Somali being spoken. The Sunday Telegraph claimed that it had seen United Nations documents that warned last month of an "attempted large-scale [terror] attack" as "elevated." After several hours, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Kenya's Capital FM one attacker is reported to have escaped after a witness spotted him mingling with the victims as they were being rescued. "The man is of Arab origin, he changed his clothes on first floor and left with the victims as they were being rescued,” he said. "When I saw him outside the building I told the police this is one of the gunmen but they did not heed to my plea but asked me to get out."

Reactions

Domestic

Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue called the incident a "terrorist" attack and added that there were likely no more than 10 perpetrators involved.

The Ministry of Interior released a statement that read: "It is a possibility that it is an attack by terrorists, so we are treating the matter very seriously." Senator Billow Kerrow from Mandera County, Nairobi said: "It's too early to know what kind of people these are, but from what we are getting, these are people who speak in the Swahili language. They are people who seem to know what they are doing, are pretty much organised. It's really quite a shocking thing because from what we're getting, they aren't ordinary thugs."

Supranational bodies

• African Union — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma condemned the "dastardly terrorist attacks" in Kenya and reiterated the AU’s commitment to continue working with its Member States to combat terrorism throughout the continent, in particular she pointed out the efforts to fight against Al Shabaab with the African Union Mission to Somalia. The Chairperson expressed also the solidarity of the AU with the government and people of Kenya.

• European Union — The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton released a statement expressing condolences, on her behalf, to those affected by the attack in Nairobi.

• United Nations — The United Nations Press Office released a statement that read, on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, that he "is following closely and with alarm" the developments and is being regularly briefed by his senior advisers. He also spoke with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and, according to the statement, "he also offered his solidarity as the Kenyan authorities handle the incident." The United Nations Security Council condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and called on Kenya to note that any response must comply with international human rights law.

States

• Argentina — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the "barbaric act" and expressing "condolences to the Kenyan government, and most especially to the relatives of the victims."
• Canada — Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement saying that "Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms this cowardly, hateful act that apparently targeted innocent civilians who were simply out shopping." Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and Citizen and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander released a joint statement saying: "Obviously we are devastated by the terrorist attack in Kenya. Al Shabab has wreaked havoc on this part of the world for far too long. In addition to the dozens of people killed and injured we are very sad to report we lost a Canadian diplomat and another Canadian … That people can be gunned down in broad daylight in a shopping mall on a weekend is obviously a tremendous tragedy. Obviously when you have someone serving their country abroad it is quite devastating ... and shakes us to the core."
• France — President Francois Hollande said that it was a "cowardly attack." Two French women were confirmed to be among the dead.
• India - India's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin criticized the attack and said India fully sympathises with Kenya and extends support to Kenyan government. He also said that Indian Mission is providing all medical aid to four Indian Nationals injured in Kenya. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written a letter to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, condemning the "heinous and senseless" terrorist attack.
• Iran — Iran's foreign ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham strongly condemned the attacks, and expressed Iran's sympathy to the Kenyan people.
• Israel — Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Ilana Stein said the attack took place near but not inside the Israeli-owned ArtCaffe. She added that one Israeli was lightly injured and three others escaped unharmed, and that the Kenyan interior minister said Israelis were not targeted. "This time, the story is not about Israel. The minister is saying that this is an internal Kenyan issue. His security forces tell him that this terror organisation was not targeting Israelis."
• Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the killings, calling them "heartless acts against defenceless civilians" and pledged to "stand shoulder to shoulder with Kenya." He also cautioned against prejudgement, saying that "we don't have any proof that the people who did this are Somali."
• South Africa — The Government of South Africa condemned the terrorist attack in Kenya and the President of South Africa Jacob Zuma has expressed his shock and dismay for the attack and also his sympathy and deepest condolences for all those affected, including one South African citizen. He declared also the decision to continue support Kenyan and international efforts "aimed at peacekeeping, stability, democracy and nation-building in Somalia."
• Sweden — Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wrote on Twitter that he "strongly condemn[s] the terrorist attack in Nairobi. The guilty must be brought to justice."
• United Kingdom — Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to Kenyatta and, according to a 10 Downing Street statement, "the current situation and explained that Kenyan security forces were bringing the situation under control. [Cameron] passed on his sincere condolences and assured President Kenyatta that our thoughts were with him and all the people of Kenya at this difficult time. The prime minister said we were ready to provide any assistance we could." Foreign Secretary William Hague released a statement that read: "We are aware of a major security incident underway at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi. We are in close contact with the Kenyan authorities on the ground in Kenya and at [the] ministerial level in the United Kingdom. The prime consideration at present is the welfare of members of the public caught up in this incident." Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds offered "consular assistance if British citizens caught up".
• United States — The White House issued a statement that read: "The United States has offered its full support to the Kenyan government to bring to justice those responsible for "this heinous act." according to a statement released by the White House. National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "We will continue to stand with the Kenyan people in their efforts to confront terrorism in all its forms, including the threat posed by Al-Shabaab. This cowardly act against innocent civilians will not shake our resolve." Secretary of State John Kerry released a statement that read: "Today's terrorist massacre of so many innocents is a heartbreaking reminder that there exists unspeakable evil in our world which can destroy life in a senseless instant...Although we have no reports of any Americans killed today, we have lost a member of our own State Department family: the wife of a foreign service national working for the U.S. Agency for International Development... Attacks like this can't change who we are, a people committed to peace and justice for all, but rather must reaffirm our determination to counter extremism and promote tolerance everywhere. As we prepare to bring the world's leaders together at the United Nations next week, we are reminded again in tragedy of our common humanity." State Department's spokeswoman Marie Harf said that its citizens were reportedly among the injured and also condemned the "senseless act of violence. We have reports of American citizens injured in the attack, and the U.S. embassy is actively reaching out to provide assistance."

Non-state political organisations

Al-Shabaab's Twitter outlet posted messages, amongst them some read: "The attacks are just retribution for the lives of innocent Muslims shelled by Kenyan jets in Lower Jubba and in refugee camps;" "What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military, albeit largely miniscule in nature;" "Since our last contact, the Mujahideen inside the mall confirmed to @HSM_Press that they killed over 100 Kenyan kuffar & battle is ongoing;" "For long we have waged war against the Kenyans in our land, now it’s time to shift the battleground and take the war to their land;" "The attack at #WestgateMall is just a very tiny fraction of what Muslims in Somalia experience at the hands of Kenyan invaders" and "The Kenyan government, however, turned a deaf ear to our repeated warnings and continued to massacre innocent Muslims in Somalia."

External links

• Twitter trend #Westgate
• Official site of the Westgate Shopping Mall