Nairobi: Kenyan security forces are close to ending a Nairobi shopping mall siege, Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku said today, with Islamist attackers still fighting but left with no way out of the complex.
"We think the operation will come to an end soon," Lenku told a press conference.
"We are in control of all the floors, the terrorists are running and hiding in some stores... there is no room for escape."
At least two of the gunmen were killed in the assault Monday morning and "several injured," Lenku added.
Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began on Saturday, but Kenyan army chief Julius Karangi said the gunmen had different nationalities, without giving further details.
"They are from different countries. We have sufficient intelligence this is global terrorism," Karangi said.
Several foreign fighters, including Somalis with dual nationalities, are members of the Shebab force.
Contrary to some earlier rumours, Lenku denied that any of the insurgents were women.
"There are no women, all the terrorists are men. Some of them had dressed like women," he said.
"We think the operation will come to an end soon," Lenku told a press conference.
"We are in control of all the floors, the terrorists are running and hiding in some stores... there is no room for escape."
Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began on Saturday, but Kenyan army chief Julius Karangi said the gunmen had different nationalities, without giving further details.
Advertisement
Several foreign fighters, including Somalis with dual nationalities, are members of the Shebab force.
Advertisement
"There are no women, all the terrorists are men. Some of them had dressed like women," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Military Says It Killed Leader Of Al Qaeda-Aligned Group In Syria Al Qaeda-Inspired Terror Cell Busted, Wanted To Create 'Khilafat' In India Who Is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Pakistani Terrorist Behind 9/11 Attacks 3 Grams Of Explosives Per Pager: Israel's Complex Op To Hurt Hezbollah What Is A Pager And Why Hezbollah Still Relies On This Outdated Device "Wear Proper Undergarments": Delta Airlines' New Memo For Flight Attendants Opinion | Should We Be Worried About Unemployable Human Bots? National Cinema Day 2024: Movie Tickets To Cost Just Rs 99 On September 20 Railway Official Loses Rs 9 Lakh Online As Fraudsters Pose As CBI Men Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.