AL Qaeda hits shopping mall in Kenya.

[Screamindemon3]

Awful. Spent the summer of 2006 in Kenya, primary Nairobi. Saw this on Facebook this morning from a family I know in Nairobi:

"After security forces made some progress late yesterday afternoon/early evening, we had a quiet night. Things began changing at 6 this morning as security forces sought a final thrust at rescuing the remaining hostages. After a series of blasts within the last 30 minutes, huge clouds of smoke are billowing from an underground section behind the Mall. Please pray for safety for any hostages still in the Westgate Mall and for security forces surrounding and in the mall. We are with friends and co-workers as we watch this unfold on TV and we feel safe and secure. Thank you for your prayers!"

 

[deacz]

NPR's coverage made this mall sound like a safe zone for Kenyans among an otherwise dangerous society. Apparently they have security and other measures in place to protect people who enter. That makes this tragedy all the worse; where will the people feel secure now?

 

[Deadbolt]

Washington Post reporting that 2-3 of the gunmen are American.

http://m.washingtonpost.com/world/a...b558be-2442-11e3-b3e9-d97fb087acd6_story.html

 

[PhDeac]

Make sure you check out the video linked in the above of fellow Deac Daveed Gartenstein-Ross giving a breakdown of al-Shabab.