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Across Kenya, flags flew at half mast at the start of three days of official mourning/AFP

Kenya

International forensic teams join Kenyan mall carnage probe

The siege saw running battles between militants and security forces in one of Nairobi’s largest and most modern shopping centres. The mall is popular with wealthy Kenyans, diplomats, UN workers and other expatriates, and was packed when the attack began.

Close to 240 were wounded in the attack, the health ministry said.

The siege developed into a hostage drama with the Islamists claiming to hold many civilians. Kenyan special forces described the final stand-off as delicate — with gunman running and hiding in supermarket aisles, store rooms, a cinema and casino and placing booby traps.

Shabaab fighters said they carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenya’s two-year battle against the extremists’ bases in Somalia.

As well as scores of Kenyans – from ordinary workers to the president’s nephew – many of the dead were foreigners, including from Britain, Canada, China, France, the Netherlands, India, South Africa and South Korea.

Five attackers were also killed and 11 suspects detained, Kenyatta said, vowing “full accountability for the mindless destruction, deaths, pain, loss and suffering we have all undergone.”

“These cowards will meet justice, as will their accomplices and patrons, wherever they are,” the president vowed, saying investigations were under way to “establish the nationalities of all those involved”.

There has been growing media speculation over the possible role of wanted British extremist Samantha Lewthwaite, daughter of a British soldier and widow of suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay, who blew himself up on a London Underground train on July 7, 2005, killing 26 people.

Families of those still missing are anxiously waiting for news of their relatives, with the Red Cross and expert counsellors and psychologists setting up tents at Nairobi’s morgue to offer support to grieving relatives.

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