Westgate shooting in Kenya Kills 39

An armed group stormed an upmarket shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Saturday, killing at least three people and sparking a fierce gun battle, police said.

Police said they had surrounded the Westgate mall, which is popular with wealthy Kenyans and expatriates, and urged residents to stay away from the area.

The motive of the attack was not immediately clear, but Kenyan media said the attackers may have been either armed robbers or "terrorists".

AFP reporters at the scene said the surrounding area had been sealed off.

"There's an incident at Westgate and we're urging the public to keep off the area," Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said.

"Our officers are on the ground carrying out an evacuation of those inside as they search for the attackers who are said to be inside," he said.

"The attackers have so far injured four people. We will provide you with regular updates as we try to save the situation."

Another police official said: "Officers are approaching the situation with caution because there are innocent civilians inside."

"We have managed to evacuate some people to safety. We urge Kenyans to avoid the area as we pursue the thugs," Kenya's Interior Ministry said on Twitter.

"We have dispatched air surveillance and we confirm that they are armed criminals. We want to know who they are," said Internal Security Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has addressed the country following the terrorist attack at Westgate Mall, Nairobi. The president revealed that he had lost close family members in the attack. The president also announced that 39 people had died and 150 sustained injuries.  He exhorted Kenyans for volunteering to help those who were injured in the attack. The president also assured the victims that the government will give them support, " the government will ensure your lives return to normal as soon as possible"
 "We have overcome terrorists before, we will defeat them again".  The president said defiantly, "terrorism is a philosophy of cowards, and terrorists acts will not cow Kenyans". He added.
The president urged Kenyans to unite to see through, " the dark moments" .The president also revealed that the a multi-agency operation is on-going.He said that the priority of the operation remains to safeguard  the lives of the people being held hostage by the terrorists. The president also said that the terrorists will be brought to book. He urged Kenyans to remain calm and to be vigilant. He also announced that security has been heightened across the country.
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