At least 15 people are alleged to have died after extremists staged a “co-ordinated” terror attack on a luxury hotel and office complex in Kenya.
A British man and an American woman are among the casualties. Their bodies were identified based on identification documents.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “The situation is ongoing. We are in contact with the Kenyan authorities who are coordinating a response and stand ready to assist as required.”
The US state department confirmed the death of one of their citizens.
Gunmen set off thunderous explosives and shot people at cafe tables and desks – with the Islamic militant group al Shabaab claiming it was behind the attack.
Eleven of the other victims are believed to be Kenyan while the nationalities of two others were not clear.
Kenya’s interior ministry said all buildings at the scene had been secured and there was no further threat to the public, despite reports of another explosion and more gunfire.
The ministry said in a tweet: “Mopping up process still underway. No further threat to public exists. Civilians who had been secured in one building by security while mopping up continues now safely evacuated. All buildings and
surrounding area secure.”
However there was no comments on the attackers’ whereabouts.
The attack happened at the DusitD2 complex in Nairobi – the venue includes bars, restaurants, offices and banks and is a popular destination with US, European and Indian expats.
Authorities have not said how many attackers were involved, but surveillance footage appeared to show at least four gunmen were involved.
Dozens of people were rushed to safety as armed officers went from shop to shop in the complex. Some people held up their hands to show they were unarmed.
Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinnet said the “co-ordinated” attack began with a car bombing targeting three vehicles in the I&M Bank car park, and a suicide bombing in a hotel foyer where a number of guests suffered “severe injuries”.
People ran out of the complex and climbed out of windows to escape, while other office workers said they had to leave colleagues behind, hiding under their desks, as the attack began.
Hotel cleaner Enoch Kibet, who escaped by crawling out of a gate in the basement, said: “People were screaming. I couldn’t believe I was alive. The blast was so loud and shook the whole complex.”
We pray for kenya