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The scene in Nairobi Josphat Kasire/AP/Press Association Images

At least six dead as Islamist suicide bomber and gunmen attack Nairobi complex

Al-Qaeda-linked Somali group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

LAST UPDATE | 15 Jan 2019

AT LEAST SIX people were killed when an Islamist suicide bomber and gunmen stormed an upmarket hotel and office complex in Nairobi, sparking an hours-long siege in which scores of terrified people were trapped inside the compound.

Gunshots rang out sporadically late into the night in the capital as police combed the hotel and outlying office buildings for survivors hiding from the gunmen, while trying to flush out the attackers.

The attack at the DusitD2 compound, which includes a 101-room hotel, spa, restaurant, and offices for local and international companies, began at 3pm (midday Irish time) with a massive explosion heard 5km away. 

The Al-Qaeda-linked Somali group Al-Shabaab, which carried out a notorious assault on a Nairobi shopping mall in 2013, claimed responsibility for the latest strike, according to the SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist activities.

“We can now confirm that this criminal activity commenced at about three o’clock in a coordinated fashion and began at I&M Bank with an explosion that targeted three vehicles in the parking lot, and a suicide explosion in the foyer of Dusit hotel,” Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinnet said.

He said “a number of guests suffered serious injuries” but did not give a figure for fatalities.

An AFP photographer saw the bodies of five dead people. An official at the MP Shah hospital in Nairobi told Citizen TV seven wounded people had been admitted, one of whom had died.

Meanwhile a police source, who asked not to be named, said he had seen as many as 14 people dead.

Kenya Attack Security forces help civilians flee the scene. Ben Curtis / PA Images Ben Curtis / PA Images / PA Images

Elite police forces evacuated terrified workers barricaded in offices for up to seven hours after the explosion, which was followed by an hour of sustained gunfire.

A number of heavily-armed foreign forces, who appeared to be from embassies based in Nairobi, were at the scene alongside Kenyan security officers.

‘Very confident’ attackers

As the operation continued past midnight, it was unclear how many people were still hiding inside office buildings or the hotel, owned by Thailand’s giant Dusit Thani Group.

“I can now report we have secured all the buildings … we are in the final stages of mopping up the area,” Interior Minister Fred Matiangi said. 

However, a fresh spurt of gunfire rang out not long after he spoke and there were reports of people still trapped.

Simon Crump, who works in the complex, said terrified workers had barricaded themselves inside their offices after “several” explosions.

“We have no idea what is happening. Gunshots are coming from multiple directions,” he told AFP a few hours before he was among those evacuated.

One survivor rescued from the building, speaking to a local television station, said the attackers were “very confident; they were people who knew what they were doing”.

CCTV footage run on local television stations showed four attackers, clad all in black and heavily armed, entering a courtyard in the compound at the start of the attack.

‘A flash and a bang’

John Maingi said there had been “a flash of lights and a loud bang” at the Secret Garden restaurant where he works.

“When I peeped outside I saw a human leg which has been cut off. We hid in the room and then some police officers rescued us,” he said.

Reuben Kimani, a barista who was rescued after several hours trapped inside the hotel, said he had recognised one of the attackers as a client he had served coffee to in recent days.

“I knew one of them because he had a big scar on one of his hands,” he said. “I saw them. They shot six of my friends, four didn’t die but two succumbed.”

Shortly after the attack, flames and plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky from the parking lot where several cars where ablaze.

Police sirens echoed through the city and two helicopters buzzed overhead while ambulances with flashing lights lined up outside the hotel.

Other establishments popular with westerners and locals, such as the popular J’s and Alchemist bars and the Village Market shopping centre, announced on social media that they had closed for security reasons.

Shabaab

The attack at DusitD2 is the first in Nairobi since gunmen stormed the city’s Westgate shopping mall in 2013, killing at least 67 people. The attack and ensuing siege lasted about four days.

That assault was also claimed by Somalia’s Shabaab, fighting since 2007 to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.

In its statement, the group noted the attack came exactly three years after its fighters overran a Kenyan military base in Somalia.

“This attack on Nairobi hotel came as Kenyans and their media are commemorating (the) El Adde attack,” it said.

The Shabaab claimed more than 200 soldiers died in that assault. The government has refused to give a toll or disclose details.

© AFP 2019

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    Mute Claire
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:34 AM

    I’m going to lose weight. But not starting til Monday. Diets have to start on Mondays

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    Mute fergalreid
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:57 AM

    I had shortbread for breakfast.

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    Mute Spiderman_Irish
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:49 AM

    If you cut out the bread and the cereals you will lose weight. Kellog’s and Nestle is obesity food despite the healthy looking misleading labels.

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Jan 1st 2015, 12:42 PM

    Cut out sugar. Tis the divil

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jan 1st 2015, 2:30 PM

    Kellogg’s Special K, which is marketed towards weight conscious women, actually has more calories than corn flakes. But you’re right, almost all breakfast cereals are junk food.

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    Mute Spiderman_Irish
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    Jan 1st 2015, 5:05 PM

    Dermot yeah exactly and its shameful the way women often consume Special K and then get fatter. See the thing is that many including myself are not told is that the most we are supposed to consume of any grains in a fistful. Anything after that and it will bloat you and sent your body into an insulin rush and you will crave/eat more and more. Its all vested interests and brainwashing!!

    Stoneground brown bread and a small amount of oats is all people should really be consuming in the bread and cereal isles. A lot of people say don’t eat meat, nuts, seeds or dairy but I eat a lot of them and I am the opposite of obese.

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    Mute Paul Keane
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:44 AM

    I’m going to be more positive. But I don’t think it’ll last.

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    Mute Rebecca
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    Jan 1st 2015, 12:19 PM

    I see what you did there ;)

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:50 AM

    Wish me luck on my new Whisky & Aspirin diet.

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:43 AM

    Good luck Francie …but sure with such a good idea you’ll be grand anyway …
    Do you have a link for that and I might check it out myself – sounds like a great idea.

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    Mute Conor Roche
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:14 AM

    My new year’s resolution will be the same as last year’s 1280 × 720 px

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    Mute Conor Roche
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:06 AM

    Wow Looks like more than half of you have given up your sense of humour for the new year.
    Well get on with your miserable lives then, for the rest of you Happy New Year!

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    Mute Pat Duffy
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:34 AM

    People annoy me when I ask about giving up cigarettes they say I’ll wait till the new year. Why wait?? Just try now

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    Mute Susan Adair Farrelly
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:20 AM

    Or how about mind your own business?! That might be a start point for you.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:34 AM

    Yes but i won’t start them until next year.

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    Mute Sian O Sullivan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:47 AM

    I’m going to try and start each day with a positive thought :)

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    Mute Charlene Hogan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:43 AM

    I’ll start the 5th…..hopefully

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    Mute Robin Basstard
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:41 AM

    Yes my New Year’s Resolution is not to make a New Year’s Resolution, lets hope I can stick to it.

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    Mute Breandán Ó Conchúir
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:25 AM

    set some end of year fitness goals thats all

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jan 1st 2015, 2:32 PM

    Wicklow 200 for me in June. The training starts Saturday.

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:44 AM

    I’m going to give up smoking on April fool’s Day – it seems more apt for some reason !

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 1st 2015, 12:30 PM

    I am going to more decisive, – maybe…

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 12:40 PM

    Just seen an add for Easter, EASTER?!!!!!!?

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jan 1st 2015, 2:33 PM

    The eggs should be in Tesco’s any day now

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    Mute John S
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    Jan 1st 2015, 7:51 PM

    99% sure I drove over the Easter bunny today.

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    Mute Des Doran
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    Jan 1st 2015, 1:16 PM

    I’m not paying for Water,
    And I will do more to bring this,
    Government to an end

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    Mute Liz Potts
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    Jan 1st 2015, 1:39 PM

    You’re also writing more haikus in 2015 i see…..good stuff

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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 5:46 PM

    Des.spot on more protesting against banks property tax USC water tax.general election now

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Jan 1st 2015, 3:28 PM

    No point when there are still loads of chocolates and biscuits still begging to be eaten.

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    Mute Saorlaith
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    Jan 1st 2015, 1:02 PM

    I’m going to try and mark a few things off my Bucket list.

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jan 1st 2015, 7:21 PM

    There’s nothing new about New Year
    It’s just a state of mind to clear
    Away some old regrets we fear
    Will taint our lives, it would appear.

    We make new resolutions then
    To old bad habits turn again.
    I’ve found the ultimate solution:
    Resolve to make no resolution!

    John Ward

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    Mute Chris
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    Jan 1st 2015, 3:44 PM

    I’ve resolved to see this gov kicked out of office

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    Mute Moll
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    Jan 1st 2015, 7:47 PM

    Mine are to get into uni, do more cardio and drink more water.. Pretty reasonable I think :)

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    Mute Datalore
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:16 AM

    You forgot: “They were made for me!☺”

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    Mute De Wit
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    Jan 1st 2015, 7:00 PM

    Nope, have to start last years yet.

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Jan 1st 2015, 2:18 PM

    I am going to cut down on

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    Mute Laurie Berry
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    Jan 1st 2015, 9:23 PM

    Drink more water and maybe cut down on the wine……

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    Mute Jake Chambers
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    Jan 3rd 2015, 9:24 AM

    Nope

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