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Kenyan Forces Push Assault as Mall Standoff Continues Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall After Long Standoff
(about 3 hours later)
NAIROBI, Kenya — Hundreds of elite Kenyan troops — backed by armored personnel carriers, helicopters, planes and security officials from Israel, France, Britain and the United States — have amassed against a small group of Islamist militants holed up in a shopping mall where dozens of people were massacred over the weekend. NAIROBI, Kenya — The bloody standoff at a Kenyan shopping mall edged closer to a conclusion on Monday night, with Kenyan officials saying that their troops were securing the building and that there were no more civilians trapped inside.
But as night fell on Monday and a thick funnel of black smoke churned from the Westgate mall in central Nairobi, the militants were still holding their ground. Kenya still struggled to bring to a close a horrific episode that has deeply unnerved its people and its allies, which rely on the country as a cornerstone of stability in an often turbulent region. “We’re in control of #Westgate,” Kenya’s Interior Ministry said in a Twitter message late Monday night, referring to the large, upscale mall that Islamist militants stormed on Saturday, killing more than 60 people.
Among the militants were two or three young American men who appeared to be of Somali or Arab origin, Kenya’s foreign minister, Amina Mohamed. said Monday. In an interview on PBS, Ms. Mohamed said the American attackers were originally from Minnesota or Missouri. “That just goes to underline the global nature of the war that we’re fighting,” she said.
The State Department’s senior spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said: We have no definitive evidence of the nationalities or identities of the perpetrators at this time. We will continue to look into these reports.”
For more than two days, Kenyan forces have struggled to vanquish the militants, who, after slaughtering shoppers, holed up in various corners of the mall with military-grade weaponry. Hundreds of elite Kenyan troops — backed by armored personnel carriers, helicopters, planes and security officials from Israel, France, Britain and the United States — have been deployed, but the militants, estimated to number from 10 to 15, refused to surrender and held their ground.
By late Monday night, the sound of gunfire had tapered off and Kenyan news media reported that all the militants had been killed.
“We believe all hostages have been released,” said the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center in a Twitter message. “Special forces and KDF soldiers combing the building. Situation of hostiles to be confirmed.”
Kenyan officials have repeatedly tried to reassure the country — and the world — that they are bringing the crisis under control, mindful of the damage to the nation’s image as a cornerstone of stability in an often turbulent region.
“This will end tonight,” Kenyan officials had declared as a major rescue operation got under way on Sunday evening. But shortly thereafter, three Kenyan commandos were shot dead at close range and several hostages were killed as Kenyan forces tried to move in on militants hiding in a dark corner of the mall, Western officials said.“This will end tonight,” Kenyan officials had declared as a major rescue operation got under way on Sunday evening. But shortly thereafter, three Kenyan commandos were shot dead at close range and several hostages were killed as Kenyan forces tried to move in on militants hiding in a dark corner of the mall, Western officials said.
When The Standard, one of Kenya’s biggest newspapers, hit the stands on Monday with the headline, “The Final Assault,” the sound of gunfire and explosives was still echoing through central Nairobi, spreading even more fear among Kenyans, who have been shocked and demoralized by the events over the past three days. When The Standard, one of Kenya’s biggest newspapers, hit the stands on Monday with the headline, “The Final Assault,” the sound of gunfire and explosives was still echoing through central Nairobi, spreading even more fear among Kenyans, who have been shocked and demoralized by the events over the past three days. A cone of black smoke rising from the roof of the mall could be seen like a signal fire from all around the city.
Kenya is a crucial American partner, whose security forces work closely with their Western counterparts to contain Islamist militants in the region. Now Kenya’s capital, considered an oasis of prosperity in this part of Africa and an important base for Western embassies and businesses, has become a battleground in the conflict, and there is growing concern that this attack will not be the last.Kenya is a crucial American partner, whose security forces work closely with their Western counterparts to contain Islamist militants in the region. Now Kenya’s capital, considered an oasis of prosperity in this part of Africa and an important base for Western embassies and businesses, has become a battleground in the conflict, and there is growing concern that this attack will not be the last.
Several witnesses said that some of the ringleaders of the assault — in which masked gunmen moved methodically through the crowded mall on Saturday, killing more than 60 men, women and children — may have escaped during the initial confusion. One witness said that an assailant quickly tore off his clothes and changed into a new outfit before running out, hands raised, blending in with a crowd of fleeing civilians. Several witnesses said that some of the ringleaders of the assault — in which masked gunmen moved methodically through the crowded mall on Saturday, killing men, women and children — may have escaped during the initial confusion. One witness said that an assailant quickly tore off his clothes and changed into a new outfit before running out, hands raised, blending in with a crowd of fleeing civilians.
Security officials in Nairobi said that two women, who were among the militants and who appeared to be directing other assailants during the killings, managed to escape after the initial stage of the attack. That assertion raised fears that well-trained terrorists could be on the loose in Nairobi. Several witnesses have said that some of the militants were clearly not African and may have been from Western countries, but American officials said they could not confirm that. Security officials in Nairobi said that two other militants — both women who appeared to be directing other assailants during the killings — also managed to escape after the initial stage of the attack, raising fears that well-trained terrorists could be on the loose in Nairobi. Several witnesses have said that some of the militants were clearly not African and may have been from Western countries, but American officials said they could not confirm that.
Kenya’s security forces have a reputation for being lowly paid and underequipped, and they seem to have been ill-prepared for a complex hostage situation against die-hard militants like this. According to several Western officials, the Kenyans initially rebuffed offers of assistance from the American government and turned instead to the Israelis, who dispatched advisers from the Israeli Defense Forces. Those advisers are working closely with the Kenyan commandos inside the mall, helping plan specific tactical operations, though officials said the Israeli advisers had not engaged in any combat and had stayed out of public view. Kenya’s security forces have a reputation for being lowly paid and underequipped, and they seem to have been ill-prepared for a complex hostage situation against die-hard militants like this. According to several Western officials, the Kenyans initially rebuffed offers of assistance from the American government and turned instead to the Israelis, who dispatched advisers from the Israeli Defense Forces. Those advisers have been working closely with the Kenyan commandos inside the mall, helping plan specific tactical operations, though officials said the Israeli advisers had not engaged in any combat and had stayed out of public view.
The American, French and British officials are left with a more back-seat role from a command center just down the street from the Westgate mall, helping the Kenyans with the investigation of the attack and some intelligence matters, a high-ranking Kenyan official said Monday. The American, French and British officials have been left with a more back-seat role from a command center just down the street from the Westgate mall, helping the Kenyans with the investigation of the attack and some intelligence matters, a high-ranking Kenyan official said Monday.
“There’s too much consultation going on,” said the Kenyan official, who had not been authorized to speak publicly. “This should have been a small rescue operation, not preparing for war.”“There’s too much consultation going on,” said the Kenyan official, who had not been authorized to speak publicly. “This should have been a small rescue operation, not preparing for war.”
On Monday afternoon, Kenyan security officials acknowledged that the effort to end the standoff was taking longer than expected but said that it would be over soon. On Monday afternoon, Kenyan security officials acknowledged that the effort to end the standoff had taken longer than expected, though they offered a different account of their setbacks, saying that about 10 Kenyan soldiers had been injured but none killed.
“We are in charge of the situation, our people are safe, and hostages have been evacuated,” said Joseph Ole Lenku, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary. Kenyan officials have said that around 10 Kenyan soldiers were injured in combat; Mr. Ole Lenku said that he was “not aware” if any had been killed. The Shabab, a brutal Somali extremist group, claimed responsibility for the siege on the mall. Its spokesmen said that the attack was revenge for Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia, which began in 2011, when Kenya sent thousands of troops across the border to push back the Shabab.
The militants holed up in the mall, with military-grade weaponry, are widely believed to be members of The Shabab, a brutal Somali extremist group that has claimed responsibility for the attack. Shabab spokesmen have said that the massacre was revenge for Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia, which began in 2011, when Kenya sent thousands of troops across the border to push back the Shabab.
Three years ago, the group also claimed credit for the coordinated bombings that killed more than 70 people in Uganda as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup, calling it retribution for Uganda’s decision to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s effort to stabilize the country.Three years ago, the group also claimed credit for the coordinated bombings that killed more than 70 people in Uganda as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup, calling it retribution for Uganda’s decision to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s effort to stabilize the country.
But the possible presence of militants from outside of Africa in the mall attack — and the way the assailants have been ferociously fending off attempts to dislodge them — has raised questions. Some Western security officials are now beginning to wonder if other terrorist groups may be involved. But the possible presence of militants from outside of Africa in the mall attack — and the way the assailants fended off attempts to dislodge them — has raised questions about the Shabab’s latest claims. Some Western security officials are now beginning to wonder if other terrorist groups may be involved.
“This whole thing seems more advanced than anything the Shabab has ever done,” said one Western security official, who did not want to be identified because the operations were still continuing.“This whole thing seems more advanced than anything the Shabab has ever done,” said one Western security official, who did not want to be identified because the operations were still continuing.
“They are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world,” said Julius Karangi, chief of the Kenyan general staff. “We are fighting global terrorism here.”“They are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world,” said Julius Karangi, chief of the Kenyan general staff. “We are fighting global terrorism here.”
According to the Kenyan government, 10 to 15 militants were involved in the attack and at least three have been killed in the tactical operations, which seemed to be intensifying Monday afternoon. The five-story Westgate shopping mall sits in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, tucked among winding forested roads. Onlookers crept through the trees as the smoke billowed up, trying to catch a closer look. Jittery police officers used tear gas to drive them back and keep the roads clear for the heavy military vehicles entering and exiting the secured area throughout the day.
The cone of black smoke could be seen like a signal fire from all around the city. The five-story Westgate shopping mall sits in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, tucked among winding forested roads. Onlookers crept through the trees as the smoke billowed up, trying to catch a closer look. Jittery police officers used tear gas to drive them back and keep the roads clear for the heavy military vehicles entering and exiting the secured area throughout the day.
On Monday afternoon, squads of troops rushed inside the burning building, and long bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, causing onlookers blocks away to hit the deck.On Monday afternoon, squads of troops rushed inside the burning building, and long bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, causing onlookers blocks away to hit the deck.
“We are also closing in on the attackers,” said David Kimaiyo, inspector general of the National Police Service, in a Twitter post on Monday. “We are also closing in on the attackers,” said David Kimaiyo, inspector general of the National Police Service, in a Twitter post earlier on Monday.
The attack killed people from many countries: France; Britain; Canada; India; China and Ghana, among others. Kenyan officials are now scrambling to reassure the world that they have the situation under control before it does deeper damage to this country. Kenya’s economy, fueled by tourism and outside investment, is highly vulnerable to swings in perception. Kenya’s currency fell against the dollar on Monday. The attack killed people from many countries: France; Britain; Canada; India; China and Ghana, among others. Many Kenyans fear that the crisis could seriously hurt the economy, which is fueled by tourism and outside investment and is highly vulnerable to swings in perception. Kenya’s currency fell against the dollar on Monday.
On Monday, reflecting the breadth of the crisis, judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague took the unusual step of suspending for one week the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on charges of crimes against humanity so that he could return home to assist in the government’s response.On Monday, reflecting the breadth of the crisis, judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague took the unusual step of suspending for one week the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on charges of crimes against humanity so that he could return home to assist in the government’s response.
“We have been assaulted by hateful, unthinking cowards,” Mr. Ruto said at the airport upon his return. “They work for the devil, we work for a living God,” he added. “We shall defeat them, we shall defeat them.”“We have been assaulted by hateful, unthinking cowards,” Mr. Ruto said at the airport upon his return. “They work for the devil, we work for a living God,” he added. “We shall defeat them, we shall defeat them.”

Reporting was contributed by Reuben Kyama and Tyler Hicks from Nairobi; Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem; Mark Mazzetti from Washington; Mohammed Ibrahim from Mogadishu, Somalia; William K. Rashbaum from New York; and Alan Cowell from London.

Reporting was contributed by Reuben Kyama and Tyler Hicks from Nairobi; Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem; Mark Mazzetti from Washington; Mohammed Ibrahim from Mogadishu, Somalia; William K. Rashbaum from New York; and Alan Cowell from London.