[Philadelphia Patriot]

I know this is a few days late...

Group behind Kenya mall attack claims militants still holding out, while Kenya says 3 soldiers killed

The Islamist militant group behind a deadly terror attack on a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi says its fighters were still holding out despite claims by authorities that Kenyan security forces had regained control of the building.

The Al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks, posted on its Twitter account Tuesday that “There are countless number of dead bodies still scattered inside the mall, and the Mujahideen are still holding their ground.”

The group’s previous Twitter accounts had been shut down, according to Reuters.

That message was followed with a tweet that said "The hostages who were being held by the Mujahideen inside #Westgate are still alive, looking quite disconcerted but, nevertheless, alive.''

Kenyan officials say at least 62 people were killed and 200 have been wounded in the violence, while 63 were reported missing.

After four days, authorities now say they are involved in a final push to clear out the remaining attackers. But authorities have before referred to their operations as final.

"Troops now in mop up operations in the building," a Kenyan police tweet said on Tuesday. On Monday night, Kenyan officials said they were “in control,” according to Reuters.

Despite the assurances from Kenya’s government that the operation has been a success, another explosion and more gunfire could be heard coming from the mall at around 6:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Associated Press reporters at the scene said. More shots were heard about noontime, followed by two explosions a short time later, and a plane and helicopter circled over the mall.

Kenyan officials say three soldiers have died and eight others were injured on Tuesday.

The building remained on fire, as flames and smoke were visible.

Westgate mall, a vast complex with multiple banks that have secure vaults and bulletproof glass partitions, as well as a casino, is difficult to take, a Western security official – who declined to be named – told The Associated Press. "They are not made for storming," he said of the labyrinth of shops, restaurants and offices. "They're made to be unstormable."

While the government announced Sunday that "most" hostages had been released, at least 10 were still being held by a band of attackers described as "a multinational collection from all over the world," a security expert with contacts inside the mall told The Associated Press.

A government official said Tuesday that Nairobi's morgue is preparing for the arrival of a large number of bodies from the mall. Morgue employees were dressed in smocks early Tuesday, though no bodies had been delivered. A city resident whose brother is taking part in the military operation inside the mall said there were many dead bodies still inside.

read more

You would think the attack on the mall in Kenya would make more US citizens get their LTCFs and start carrying? Something similar happening here in the homeland isn't too far fetch. I think soft targets are going to be bigger targets for terrorists.

[Jon Doe]

British hero of the mall massacre: Ex Royal Marine with a handgun saved 100 lives as terrorists ran amok

Was having coffee at Westgate mall when it was attacked on Saturday
He returned to building a dozen times despite intense gunfire
Man, who can't be named for security reasons, was pictured with victims
Gunfire heard early today despite Kenyan assurances mall had been secured
'At least 10 hostages still being held by a band of Al Shabaab militants'
Up to three American teenagers and one British person among terrorists

By Paul Bentley and David Williams
PUBLISHED: 16:59 EST, 23 September 2013 | UPDATED: 05:46 EST, 24 September 2013

A former marine emerged as a hero of the Nairobi siege yesterday after he was credited with saving up to 100 lives.

The ex soldier was having coffee at the Westgate mall when it was attacked by Islamists on Saturday.

With a gun tucked into his waistband, he was pictured helping two women from the complex.

His story emerged as sporadic gunfire continued to ring out from inside the mall early today as Kenyan security forces battled Al Qaeda-linked terrorists into a fourth day.

Despite Kenyan police assurances that they had taken control of the building, a security expert with contacts inside the mall said at least 10 hostages were still being held by a band of attackers, possibly as many as 13.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z2fp1SS8ko

[csmith]

You would think the attack on the mall in Kenya would make more US citizens get their LTCFs and start carrying? Something similar happening here in the homeland isn't too far fetch. I think soft targets are going to be bigger targets for terrorists.

You would think....

Unfortunately the media push seems to be in the direction of increasing security and further restricting freedom.