| CNN | - |
(CNN)
-- Gunmen ambushed an upscale shopping mall in the Kenyan capital on
Saturday, leading to a fierce gunbattle with police and at least 20
people killed, the Kenyan Red Cross said.
At least 20 killed when gunmen attack Nairobi shopping mall, Red Cross says
updated 10:26 AM EDT, Sat September 21, 2013
Gunmen take hostages at Kenya mall
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: "People were petrified, crying, praying," witness says
- NEW: At least 50 people are wounded
- "We're doing our job to ensure that everyone is evacuated to safety," interior ministry says
Fifty more people were wounded in the attack at the mall in Nairobi, said Abbas Gullet, head of the Kenyan Red Cross.
The gunmen burst into the
mall and shot indiscriminately, taking some people hostage, according
to a senior Kenyan government source.
"All of a sudden we heard
some shots and people rushing," said Zulobia Kassam, who was having
coffee at the mall. "We realized we were under attack. We rushed to the
back, trying to hide and we heard random shots from everywhere --
upstairs, downstairs."
She said they stayed in hiding for about 40 minutes before sneaking out through a back door.
"People were petrified, crying, praying," she said. "We were told there were hostages being held."
It was unclear how many
hostages the attackers took, but police are trying to negotiate for
their release and retake the building, according to the source.
Crowds dashed down the streets as soldiers in military fatigues crawled under cars to get closer to the mall, guns cocked.
Surveillance helicopters flew overhead.
Attackers appear to be of Somali origin, a Kenyan government source and Western diplomatic sources told CNN.
The military asked local media not to televise anything live because the gunmen are watching the screens in the mall.
"We urge Kenyans to keep off Westgate mall, adjacent roads and its environs until further notice," the interior ministry said in a statement.
"We're doing our job to
ensure that everyone is evacuated to safety," the ministry said. "This
is a scene of crime, let police do their job."
Authorities said
multiple shooters were at the scene and terrified shoppers were hiding
inside the mall, which is popular among expatriates and the wealthy.
The high-end mall opened six years ago, and has more than 80 stores.
Village Market, another shopping center frequented by foreigners, shut down for the day as a precaution.
CNN's Nima Elbagir, Boriana Milanova and
Lilian Leposo contributed to this report from Nairobi. Zulobia Kassam, a
witness quoted in this story, is related to CNN's Zain Verjee.
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