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| Nairobi Westgate shoot-out kills 11 in Kenya | Nairobi Westgate shoot-out kills 11 in Kenya |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Eleven people have died in a gun battle inside a Nairobi shopping centre, says a senior Kenyan security official. | Eleven people have died in a gun battle inside a Nairobi shopping centre, says a senior Kenyan security official. |
| Mutea Iringo blamed "armed criminals" and said police were in control of a "very serious situation". Officers are going shop to shop to secure the area. The Kenyan Red Cross says 30 died. | Mutea Iringo blamed "armed criminals" and said police were in control of a "very serious situation". Officers are going shop to shop to secure the area. The Kenyan Red Cross says 30 died. |
| Eyewitnesses saw armed men in black entering the Westgate shopping centre on Saturday afternoon. | Eyewitnesses saw armed men in black entering the Westgate shopping centre on Saturday afternoon. |
| The Somali militant group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack. | The Somali militant group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack. |
| On its Twitter feed, the al-Qaeda-linked group said it confirmed it was behind what it called the "Westgate spectacle". | On its Twitter feed, the al-Qaeda-linked group said it confirmed it was behind what it called the "Westgate spectacle". |
| Al-Shabab has carried out a string of attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops moved into southern Somalia to fight the militants there. | Al-Shabab has carried out a string of attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops moved into southern Somalia to fight the militants there. |
| Some eyewitnesses told AFP news agency they had heard the gunmen speaking Arabic or Somali. | |
| Other witnesses said Muslims were told to leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted. | Other witnesses said Muslims were told to leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted. |
| "They came and said: 'If you are Muslim, stand up. We've come to rescue you," said Elijah Lamau. | "They came and said: 'If you are Muslim, stand up. We've come to rescue you," said Elijah Lamau. |
| He said the Muslims left with their hands up, and then the gunmen shot two people. | He said the Muslims left with their hands up, and then the gunmen shot two people. |
| The US state department says it has reports that American citizens were injured in what it called "a senseless act of violence". | The US state department says it has reports that American citizens were injured in what it called "a senseless act of violence". |
| Trapped | Trapped |
| The attackers entered the Westgate centre at about 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT), throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. | The attackers entered the Westgate centre at about 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT), throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. |
| Dozens of shoppers fled; many were trapped inside. Some reports spoke of hostages but this is unconfirmed. | Dozens of shoppers fled; many were trapped inside. Some reports spoke of hostages but this is unconfirmed. |
| Arjen Westra, who was drinking coffee at the time of the attack, told the BBC he thought the cafe he was in was being targeted by the gunmen. | Arjen Westra, who was drinking coffee at the time of the attack, told the BBC he thought the cafe he was in was being targeted by the gunmen. |
| "I could hear the gunfire moving towards the main entrance of the shopping mall, so some people ran out of our cafe in a kind of panic, and quite a number just fell down as flat as possible on the ground." | "I could hear the gunfire moving towards the main entrance of the shopping mall, so some people ran out of our cafe in a kind of panic, and quite a number just fell down as flat as possible on the ground." |
| Mr Iringo, permanent secretary in the Internal Security Ministry, said special forces were now "evacuating civilians and searching for the criminals". | Mr Iringo, permanent secretary in the Internal Security Ministry, said special forces were now "evacuating civilians and searching for the criminals". |
| Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue initially said the gunmen had been trying to rob a shop, but later called it "a terrorist attack". | Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue initially said the gunmen had been trying to rob a shop, but later called it "a terrorist attack". |
| Targeted | Targeted |
| The BBC's Anne Soy, who is at the scene, said there were reports one of the gunmen has been shot dead. | The BBC's Anne Soy, who is at the scene, said there were reports one of the gunmen has been shot dead. |
| Some of the attackers were reportedly dressed in hijabs, and it is unclear whether they were men or women, our correspondent says. | Some of the attackers were reportedly dressed in hijabs, and it is unclear whether they were men or women, our correspondent says. |
| Security guards used shopping trolleys to wheel out several wounded children and at least one man. | Security guards used shopping trolleys to wheel out several wounded children and at least one man. |
| "The gunmen tried to fire at my head but missed. There are definitely many casualties," Sudjar Singh, who works at the shopping centre, told AFP. | "The gunmen tried to fire at my head but missed. There are definitely many casualties," Sudjar Singh, who works at the shopping centre, told AFP. |
| "I saw three of the attackers dressed in black and with covered faces and they were carrying heavy rifles," said another witness. | "I saw three of the attackers dressed in black and with covered faces and they were carrying heavy rifles," said another witness. |
| One Nairobi resident, Anupa, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard the exchange of fire when it happened, and I heard what I thought was a grenade, but I didn't go outside. The whole area is cordoned off." | One Nairobi resident, Anupa, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard the exchange of fire when it happened, and I heard what I thought was a grenade, but I didn't go outside. The whole area is cordoned off." |
| The Westgate centre is often frequented by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates. Police have urged residents to stay away from the area. | The Westgate centre is often frequented by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates. Police have urged residents to stay away from the area. |