NAIROBI, (PNA/Xinhua) — At least five people were killed and dozens of others wounded in an attack by gunmen on a top-level shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Saturday morning, according to witnesses.
Witnesses said they heard explosions and heavy gunfire and five bodies lying on the ground after the shootout between police officers and a group of armed men at the Westgate shopping mall, which is frequented mostly by foreigners and rich people in the East African country.
Reports from various sources also said the gunmen kidnapped a number of shoppers in the standoff with police.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo in an initial report said five people were wounded in the exchange of fire, calling for calm and pledging capability of dealing with the situation.
The police officer said he “will issue a comprehensive statement later.”
There is heavy police presence now at the shopping mall, where many people are still trapped in various shops, witnesses reported.