At Least 69 Dead in Kenyan Mall Terrorist Attack; Security Forces Trying to Break Hostage Situation

Al Shabab claimed responsibility

A series of large explosions and automatic gunfire rocked an upscale mall in the Kenyan capital where as many as 15 al-Qaeda-linked gunmen have held an unknown number of hostages since an attack two days ago.

Dozens of soldiers, some of them carrying heavy machine guns, and an army tank were seen at the main access road to the Westgate mall in Nairobi at about 1:15 p.m. Thick black smoke smoke was seen billowing from the four-story building. At least 69 people have been killed since the raid began, while 63 are missing, the Kenya Red Cross said earlier today.