WESTGATE ATTACK Except for a sporadic exchange of gunfire with security forces, hours passed as anxiety among families waiting for their loved ones to be released piled up until afternoon, when the terrorists noticed helicopters hovering in the air. The terrorists, whose tactics involved a suicide-cum-mass casualty attack in response to the sight of helicopters, started shooting at surviving hostages and throwing them off the building. The Kenya Defence Force (KDF) was initially unsure of how to respond. Although they had surrounded the mall, they did not know the number of militants or even the remaining number of hostages. Initial attacks were chaotic as the chain of command between the police and military not only worsened things but also resulted in the military shooting dead a General Service Unit commander. The Standard has established that the attack was preceded by months of tactical reconnaissance, a well-done study of the layout of the building and the terrorists reportedly operating a shop at the mall and living in a rented apartment nearby. When the KDF soldiers pushed into the building, one of the terrorists blew himself up, leading to a huge fire that caught parts of the building, especially the Nakumatt supermarket. The terrorists then started burning mattresses and throwing them to lowers floors, resulting in heavy smoke. After some time, the roof and parts of the supermarket began caving in, trapping the hostages. “We received a call to go and put out the fire,” a Nairobi City Council firefighter said. “We feared for our lives but the soldiers assured us of our safety.” The firefighter said he heard several women wailing as a result of the smoke. By Monday evening, the troops had surrounded the basement, first, second and last floors of the mall. “However the heavy smoke forced us to retreat,” one of the soldiers said. Meanwhile, a massacre of hostages was also taking place
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 04:01:12 +0000
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