Somalia Al-Shabab claims Nairobi Westgate Kenya attack
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Footage from inside the mall shows the aftermath of the shootout
A senior figure in the Somali militant group al-Shabab has told the BBC it carried out a deadly attack on a shopping centre in neighbouring Kenya.

Al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda, said the attack was in response to Kenya's presence in Somalia, where its troops have been fighting the militants since 2011.

A senior Kenyan security official has put the death toll at 11.

However, the Red Cross says at least 30 people were killed and dozens injured.

On its Twitter feed, al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaeda, said it was behind what it called the "Westgate spectacle".

The attackers entered the Westgate centre at about 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT), throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons.

Dozens of shoppers fled; many were trapped inside. Officers have been going shop to shop to secure the area.

Al-Shabab also said on Twitter that its fighters were still battling Kenyan security forces inside the Westgate centre, some seven hours after the assault began.

A security source told the AFP news agency police and soldiers had finally "pinned down" the gunmen in one corner of the shopping centre after several hours of fighting.

One gunman was arrested and died of his wounds, Kenyan officials told the BBC. Four other gunmen were arrested.

Al-Shabab has claimed on its Twitter account that the Kenyan government wants to negotiate an end to the Westgate attack, but officials have told the BBC they intend to hunt the gunmen down.

Some witnesses said Muslims were told to leave and that non-Muslims would be targeted.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24191606

These people believe in their hearts of hearts that killing non muslims pleases God. That's a ridiculous belief