Al Shabab Takes Credit for Kenya Mall Killings

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Sun Sep 22, 2013 at 08:00:00 AM EST
Tags: al Shabab (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Al Shabab, the Islamic extremist group from Somalia, has claimed credit for the Kenyan mall attacks.

A statement from al-Shabab on its official Twitter feed Saturday says the attacks are retribution for military action by Kenya inside Somalia. The group said it was now shifting the battlefield to Kenya.

The attack took place at the upscale Westgate mall, while the Red Cross was holding a children's event. The gunman asked Muslims to identify themselves, and told them to leave. The rest were fair game.

At least 39 people were killed, and more than 150 were wounded. [More...]

Foreigners were among the casualties. France's president said that two French women were killed. Two Canadians were killed, including a diplomat, said the Candadian prime minister. Four American citizens were reported injured but not killed in the attack, the State Department said Saturday.

Some graphic video is here.

Gunman are still inside the mall, with some hostages.

Al-Shabaab said on its Twitter feed that Kenyan security officials were trying to open negotiations. “There will be no negotiations whatsoever,” al-Shabaab tweeted.

Al-Shabab's twitter account has now been suspended.

< Saturday College Football Open Thread | Government Shutdown: Law Enforcement Exceptions >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Al Shabab Takes Credit for Kenya Mall Killings | 6 comments (6 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Kenya (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Mikado Cat on Mon Sep 23, 2013 at 02:16:58 AM EST

is one of the most beautiful places on earth, I hope an example can be made of what should be done, something lasting.

According to a report on NPR this a.m. (none / 0) (#1)
by shoephone on Sun Sep 22, 2013 at 02:19:27 PM EST

they killed a Muslim man from Somalia, who was fleeing Al-Shabaab in his own country.

These people are monsters, nothing less.

That group is claiming (none / 0) (#2)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Sep 22, 2013 at 10:50:14 PM EST

that three americans took part, one from Kansas city, one from Minneapolis, and one from St Paul.

: Probably ex-pats (none / 0) (#6)
by jondee on Wed Sep 25, 2013 at 09:58:01 PM EST

alienated and driven to acts of desperation by our tyrannical gun laws and other
big governmment assaults on our basic freedoms..

Perhaps it is just another in a very long (none / 0) (#4)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Sep 25, 2013 at 03:22:37 PM EST

line of coincidences but this is another fake "gun free zone" that made sure the victims were barred effective means of self defense.

Not a "coincidence" (none / 0) (#5)
by Yman on Wed Sep 25, 2013 at 07:54:54 PM EST

A delusion.