09-22-2013, 11:38 AM
Hostage Crisis Underway
![[Image: westgate-shopping-mall-nairobi-2.jpg]](http://www.giornalettismo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/westgate-shopping-mall-nairobi-2.jpg)
Nairobi, Kenya - this stand off has been underway for over 24 hours now. The death toll is 59 so far, and at least 175 have been injured by the asshole Islamic fundamentalists who've taken the Westgate Mall under siege and continue to hold Africans and foreign tourists hostage.
A witness to the attacks on the upscale shopping mall says that gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted.
![[Image: 2013-09-21T145108Z_01_NAI117_RTRIDSP_3_KENYA-ATTACK.jpg]](http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/09/21/Foreign/Images/2013-09-21T145108Z_01_NAI117_RTRIDSP_3_KENYA-ATTACK.jpg)
Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked rebel group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack in which they used grenades and assault rifles. The rebels said the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces' 2011 push into Somalia.
Combined military and police forces surrounded the mall in the Westlands neighborhood of Nairobi, an area frequented by foreigners and wealthy Kenyans.
Al-Shabab said on its new Twitter feed – after its old one was shut down on Saturday – that Kenyan officials were asking the hostage-takers to negotiate and offering incentives. "We'll not negotiate with the Kenyan govt as long as its forces are invading our country, so reap the bitter fruits of your harvest," al-Shabab said in a tweet.
Among the fatalities are 3 British citizens and a 38 year old Chinese woman (whose child survived).
Dozens of people managed to hide overnight, escape this morning and were led to safety.
![[Image: _70051574_n090y11r.jpg]](http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/70051000/jpg/_70051574_n090y11r.jpg)
The number of hostages is unknown (estimated at 30 or more), as is the number of attackers (estimated at 10 to 15).
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22..._slideshow
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/afri...story.html
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/20...emall.html
Nairobi, Kenya - this stand off has been underway for over 24 hours now. The death toll is 59 so far, and at least 175 have been injured by the asshole Islamic fundamentalists who've taken the Westgate Mall under siege and continue to hold Africans and foreign tourists hostage.
A witness to the attacks on the upscale shopping mall says that gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted.
Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked rebel group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack in which they used grenades and assault rifles. The rebels said the attack was retribution for Kenyan forces' 2011 push into Somalia.
Combined military and police forces surrounded the mall in the Westlands neighborhood of Nairobi, an area frequented by foreigners and wealthy Kenyans.
Al-Shabab said on its new Twitter feed – after its old one was shut down on Saturday – that Kenyan officials were asking the hostage-takers to negotiate and offering incentives. "We'll not negotiate with the Kenyan govt as long as its forces are invading our country, so reap the bitter fruits of your harvest," al-Shabab said in a tweet.
Among the fatalities are 3 British citizens and a 38 year old Chinese woman (whose child survived).
Dozens of people managed to hide overnight, escape this morning and were led to safety.
The number of hostages is unknown (estimated at 30 or more), as is the number of attackers (estimated at 10 to 15).
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22..._slideshow
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/afri...story.html
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/20...emall.html