Rais Uhuru Kenyatta wa Kenya amesema, wanajeshi sita wa nchi hiyo wamekufa wakati wa mapambano na wapiganaji wa Al shaabab katika jengo la maduka makubwa la Westgate jijini Nairobi.
Kiongozi huyo amesema, ghorofa 3 zimeporomoka wakati wa mapambano hayo yaliyoanza Jumamosi iliyopita na kumalizika jana Jumanne.
Kwa mujibu wa Rais Kenyatta, kuna miili ya watu imefunikwa kwenye vifusi vya jengo lililoanguka, ikiwemo ya magaidi.
Inakadiriwa kuwa, kati ya wapiganaji 10 hadi 15 walivamia jengo hilo Jumamosi mchana na kuua watu kwa risasi na mabomu.
Inadaiwa kwamba hadi sasa zaidi ya watu 60 hawajulikani walipo.
Rais Kenyatta ametangaza siku tatu za maombolezo kuanzia leo.
Kiongozi huyo amesema, ghorofa 3 zimeporomoka wakati wa mapambano hayo yaliyoanza Jumamosi iliyopita na kumalizika jana Jumanne.
Kwa mujibu wa Rais Kenyatta, kuna miili ya watu imefunikwa kwenye vifusi vya jengo lililoanguka, ikiwemo ya magaidi.
Inakadiriwa kuwa, kati ya wapiganaji 10 hadi 15 walivamia jengo hilo Jumamosi mchana na kuua watu kwa risasi na mabomu.
Inadaiwa kwamba hadi sasa zaidi ya watu 60 hawajulikani walipo.
Rais Kenyatta ametangaza siku tatu za maombolezo kuanzia leo.
Soldiers who took part in the assault on terrorists at the Westgate
Mall Tuesday gave a glimpse of the extent of the horrific attack at the
upmarket shopping centre, fuelling fears the death toll would rise
significantly.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops interviewed described the situation inside the building as a “scene from a horror movie.”
“There
was blood everywhere. Some bodies were burnt and others rotting,” a
soldier told The Standard Tuesday. “The Nakumatt supermarket floor had
blood splattered everywhere.”
In some rooms, bodies were strewn on
the floor, added the soldier, who declined to be named as he discussed
the sensitive operation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said the confrontation with terrorists left 240 casualties.
The
President said 67 people, including six security officers, had been
killed and 61 were still in hospital following the Saturday morning
attack by the terrorists estimated at between 10 and 15.
Red Cross reported 69 had died and the fate of 63 listed missing unclear.
In a televised address from State House, Nairobi, last night, President Kenyatta said: “Towards the tail end of the operation three floors of the Westgate Mall collapsed and there are several bodies still trapped in the rubble including the terrorists.”
The
President said five terrorists had been killed and 11 suspects were in
custody.
“Intelligence reports had suggested that a British woman and
two or three American citizens may have been involved in the attack...
We cannot confirm the details at present... Forensic experts are working
to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists...,” he said.
“These
cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices and patrons,
wherever they are,” declared President Kenyatta, vowing Kenya would not
relent in the war against terrorism.
“It has not been an easy time for anyone of us, least of all the affected; Our losses are immense,” the President said as he declared three days of national mourning beginning today, to honour those who lost their lives in the attack.
Official flags will fly at half-mast throughout the country during this period.
“We confronted this evil without flinching, contained our deep grief and pain, and conquered it... As a nation, our head is bloodied, but unbowed... The criminals found us unafraid, as we ever shall be...We cannot be conquered,” President Kenyatta declared.
The President said forensic teams had moved into the besieged mall to identify the five slain attackers as well as other bodies that may have been trapped inside the building.
“Towards the end of the operation, three floors of the mall collapsed and there are still several bodied trapped including the terrorists,” the President regretted.
He said the forensic team would help to ascertain the nationalities of the attackers, as he acknowledged – but declined to confirm – reports that some of the terrorists were British and American.
“Intelligence reports had suggested that a British woman and two or three American citizens may have been involved in the attack. We cannot confirm the details at present but forensic experts are working to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists,” he said.
Authorities confirmed the terrorists had rigged the four-storied building with booby-traps and security forces had to sweep the building, explaining delays in the operation.
“We are doing a clean-up of explosives that had been set up by the terrorists,” the Kenya Police posted on its Twitter account.
Officials also confirmed three KDF soldiers had succumbed to their injuries sustained during the assault against the terrorists. Eight injured soldiers are admitted at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital.
The fallen soldiers include Jacktone Puodi, 27, who had graduated in 2009 from Moi Barracks, Nairobi.
Puodi responded to the call to duty, and put himself in harms way, to help free terrified hostages, who could have included children like his one-year-old girl.
The gallant soldier himself an orphan, his parents died in 1996, put his life on the line to ensure that innocent civilians were not killed and children robbed of their parents.
“It has not been an easy time for anyone of us, least of all the affected; Our losses are immense,” the President said as he declared three days of national mourning beginning today, to honour those who lost their lives in the attack.
Official flags will fly at half-mast throughout the country during this period.
“We confronted this evil without flinching, contained our deep grief and pain, and conquered it... As a nation, our head is bloodied, but unbowed... The criminals found us unafraid, as we ever shall be...We cannot be conquered,” President Kenyatta declared.
The President said forensic teams had moved into the besieged mall to identify the five slain attackers as well as other bodies that may have been trapped inside the building.
“Towards the end of the operation, three floors of the mall collapsed and there are still several bodied trapped including the terrorists,” the President regretted.
He said the forensic team would help to ascertain the nationalities of the attackers, as he acknowledged – but declined to confirm – reports that some of the terrorists were British and American.
“Intelligence reports had suggested that a British woman and two or three American citizens may have been involved in the attack. We cannot confirm the details at present but forensic experts are working to ascertain the nationalities of the terrorists,” he said.
Authorities confirmed the terrorists had rigged the four-storied building with booby-traps and security forces had to sweep the building, explaining delays in the operation.
“We are doing a clean-up of explosives that had been set up by the terrorists,” the Kenya Police posted on its Twitter account.
Officials also confirmed three KDF soldiers had succumbed to their injuries sustained during the assault against the terrorists. Eight injured soldiers are admitted at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital.
The fallen soldiers include Jacktone Puodi, 27, who had graduated in 2009 from Moi Barracks, Nairobi.
Puodi responded to the call to duty, and put himself in harms way, to help free terrified hostages, who could have included children like his one-year-old girl.
The gallant soldier himself an orphan, his parents died in 1996, put his life on the line to ensure that innocent civilians were not killed and children robbed of their parents.
Standard
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