By Andrew Wasike, Magdalene Mukami and Hassan Isilow
NAIROBI, Kenya/JOHANNESBURG (AA): At least fifteen people were killed Tuesday when al-Shabaab terrorists attacked an upscale hotel in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. All the five terrorists have been killed, and a suicide bomber blew himself up, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Wednesday.
At least 174 people have been rescued in an attack that has left 15 people dead.
Identification papers indicated that 11 were Kenyans one was American and one was British while two others did not have their documents.
Authorities said fourteen people died in a restaurant at the Dusit D2 Hotel, 4 Riverside drive, Westlands area and another died at a local hospital.
There was an explosion at the parking lot and then a suicide bomb blast in the hallway of the dusitD2 Hotel. One of attackers blew himself up.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack via radio. The Somalia-based al Qaeda-linked terror group has previously carried out a number of attacks in Kenya.
The Daily Nation newspaper quoted Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as saying that the buildings at the Dusit complex have been secured.
He said the country is now safe and urged Kenyans to carry on with their activities.
The Somali government, which has faced attacks from the al-Shabaab militant group for years, condemned the attack in Nairobi.
“This heinous act of terror, which routinely targets innocent people, once again reveals the hideous face of terrorism,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The Somalia government also extended its condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.
Somalia also reaffirmed its full solidarity with the government of Kenya in its war against terrorism.
Kenya contributes troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia which has weakened al-Shabaab, which has been fighting to overthrow the Somali government for years.
Additional report by The Muslim News
[Map of Kenya. Creative Commons]
