Westgate shopping mall attack
Terrorist attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 September 2013
On 21 September 2013, ten gunmen attacked Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The attack lasted until 24 September. The attackers held hostages and later fought in gun battles with Kenyan security forces. A total of 72 people were killed, including 61 civilians, 6 Kenyan soldiers and 5 attackers. Over 200 people were injured.
| Westgate shopping mall attack | |
|---|---|
 Smoke over Westgate shopping mall on 23 September 2013 | |
| Location | Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Coordinates | 1°15′25″S 36°48′12″E / 1.25694°S 36.80333°E |
| Date | 21 September 2013 ~12:00–12:30 on 21–24 September (UTC+3) |
Attack type | Mass shooting, hostage crisis, siege |
| Weapons | AK-47s[1] Grenades |
| Deaths | 67 victims 5 attackers |
Injured | 175[2] |
| Perpetrators | Al-Shabaab |
The Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.[3] It said that it was in retaliation for the Kenyan military's role in the Somali Civil War. Newly released intelligence report named Kenyan commander and chief in attack.[4]
References
change- ↑ Blair, Edmund (21 September 2013). "Islamists claim gun attack on Nairobi mall, at least 39 dead". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ "Kenyan military frees most hostages at mall". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ↑ "Kenya forces deployed at Nairobi shopping mall after gunfire". The Malay Mail Online. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ Kenyan militant commander named as target of US Somali raid