Nairobi Siege: How The Attack Happened
1. Attack
” Attackers enter building from front entrance, via second floor car park and reportedly also via the basement. Begin shooting and throwing grenades. Thousands of shoppers flee, with attackers reportedly targeting non-Muslims. Hostages taken and reportedly held in cinema and Millionaires Casino.
The attack on the Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi unfolded at around noon local time (0900 GMT) on Saturday.
The mall was packed with shoppers and people having lunch.
The multi-storey, upmarket shopping centre is owned by an Israeli businessman, has restaurants, cafes, banks, a large supermarket and a cinema.
The building has six levels – with three devoted to shopping, eating and leisure, a third and fourth containing offices and a dental practice, and a basement underneath.
The attackers are thought to have entered the building from three points.
According to witnesses sitting outside ArtCaffe on the ground floor, one group armed with assault weapons drove up to the main entrance.
The attackers, dressed in black and wearing turbans, began firing and throwing grenades, causing panic as shoppers fled in any direction away from the firing.”
2. Stand Off
3. Renewed Assault
4. Aftermath
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