Armed Somali group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack on an upscale shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that has left at least 30 dead and 50 injured.

Kenyan security forces have arrested one of the gunmen who attacked the mall on Saturday, the Kenyan presidency said on Twitter.

In a separate tweet, the east African country's head of police, David Kimaiyo, said several other assailants had been pinned down after soldiers and police moved into the mall to hunt down the attackers.

On its own Twitter account, al-Shabab said it had "on numerous occasions warned the Kenyan government that failure to remove its forces from Somalia would have severe consequences".

Kenyan troops have been fighting al-Shabab in Somalia, where the anti-government group is seeking to impose Islamic law and has carried out numerous attacks.

Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks including hand grenades and bombs since it sent troops to southern Somalia in late 2011 to attack al-Shabab bases.

Lengthy gunbattle

A gunbattle broke out earlier inside a shopping centre as police and military forces struggled to evacuate shoppers and apprehend an unknown number of armed men.

In a statement issued by Kenya's Internal Security Minister Mutea Iringo said that the government is now "fully in charge" of the situation at the mall.

Police and security guards, who were calling the hours-long siege a "terrorist incident", told the AFP news agency that the attackers had also taken at least seven hostages in what was initially believed to be an armed robbery.

Another witness said the attackers opened fire, executing people after they threw grenades into the building at about midday local time (09:00 GMT).

Unverified witness accounts have indicated that the attackers targeted non-Muslims and foreigners.

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 US State Department said Americans were reportedly among the injured in the attack, condemning the "senseless act of violence."

"We have reports of American citizens injured in the attack, and the US embassy is actively reaching out to provide assistance," spokeswoman Marie Harf said without giving further details.

There were reports of people still being trapped in the mall's shops as well as the parking garage. Police said they had managed to escort some shoppers to safety but were still trying to capture the gunmen.

sad

ETT

Na wao make den no go introduce new format to our local militia for dis awa obodo 9ja .u na sabo sey we dey copy_copy too much.