The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday declared that the attack on a hotel complex in the capital Nairobi was finally over.
He said all the militants who launched the attack on the complex on Tuesday have been killed.
On Wednesday morning fresh gunfire and explosions were heard within the complex raising concerns the attack was not yet over.
The country’s interior cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i had told journalists on Tuesday that all buildings at the Dusit complex on 14 Riverside Drive in Westlands, had been secured.
But security officials on Wednesday morning resumed a special operation to disarm the attackers.
President Kenyatta in a speech to Kenyans said 14 people were killed in the attack. He however did not mention the number of attackers who were also killed in the process.
But the Kenyan Red Cross says at least 24 people are known to have died so far from the attack.
Mr Kenyatta said those involved in the attack will be relentlessly pursued.
“We will seek out every person involved in the funding, planning and execution of this heinous act,” he said adding that Kenya “will pursue them wherever they will be, until they are held to account.”
Somali-based militant group, Al-shabab has claimed responsibility.
Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group’s military operations spokesman is quoted by Reuters as saying that Al Shabaab is “behind the attack in Nairobi.
How the attack was executed
Four armed men were reported by eyewitnesses to have entered the complex shortly before the attack.
According to Daily Nation, “the attackers arrived using a car, KCN 340E, and another vehicle that advanced further in.
They forced their way into 14 Riverside Drive and forced security guards to open the gate by shooting at them.”
The newspaper also reports that the attackers “then advanced and hurled explosives into vehicles at the parking lot before making their way into Dusit D2 Hotel which houses several offices and hotels.”
Apart from the 14 now known to have died 30 others sustained injuries and were rushed to various hospitals in Nairobi.
Kenya continues to suffer terrorist attacks mostly carried out by al-shabab fighters.
In 2013 an attack carried out on a shopping centre killed dozens while nearly 150 students were also killed at a university in 2015.
Source: Africafeeds.com