Somali armed group al-Shabaab have claimed the responsibility for an attack in an upscale neighborhood in Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi that happened today during the afternoon.
The group’s military operations spokesman told Al Jazeera;
“We are currently conducting an operation in Nairobi,”
It all started with explosion and heavy gunfire at a hotel complex in Nairobi and this was later confirmed by the Kenyan Police.
“We wish to confirm that there has been an attack incident along 14 Riverside Drive. The area has since been cordoned off. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to facilitate smooth operations of the Police. ” The Kenyan Police Force tweeted.
Police are said to be exchanging gunfire with the attackers in the operation. According to Sky News, At least one officer in bomb disposal gear has been seen at the complex as well as an unexploded grenade in a hallway of a shopping area.
Several cars have been seen on fire and people are being carried away from the scene behind large plumes of smoke arising from the area. It has not yet been confirmed whether there is any life lost but one survivor of the attack said he sought refuge in a fridge and that he saw at least one dead body in the grounds of the DusitD2 hotel.
Another eyewitness said that he saw the attackers wearing green and were wrapped in ammunition.
This incident comes on the third anniversary of the El Adde attack, which claimed the lives of several Kenyan soldiers in Somalia and a day after trial began in deadly Westgate mall attack case that left 67 people dead.
At first, Nairobi Police Commander Philip Ndolo had earlier said they had cordoned off the area due to a suspected robbery before the islamic militants and Al-Qaeda affiliates, Al-Shabaab came out to claim the responsibility, arguing they had some of there men still trapped inside the building.
