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Kenyan government reports security forces take control of shopping mall seized by terrorists

Kenyan security forces believed the end was in sight for the siege at the upmarket shopping mall in Nairobi, saying its forces were “in control” as the ordeal entered its 4th....

Photo EPA/KABIR DHANJI

Photo EPA/KABIR DHANJI

PRETORIA, September 24 (Itar-Tass) - All hostages taken by gunmen on Saturday in the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi have been most likely evacuated, an official of the Kenyan government said on Tuesday, quoted by AFP news agency. The exact number of the evacuated hostages is not reported.

Kenyan security forces believed the end was in sight for the siege at the upmarket shopping mall in the capital, saying its forces were “in control” as the ordeal entered its fourth day.

A government official said there was no resistance from the attackers late on Monday night after a barrage of gunfire and blasts throughout the day, but that the security forces were cautious in case some attackers were hiding in the building, according to AFP.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry reported that Kenyan security forces took control of the shopping centre. “Our forces are combing the mall floor by floor looking for anyone left behind. We believe all hostages have been released,” the Ministry of Interior said on Twitter.

On Saturday, a group of gunmen broke into the mall and opened fire on the people there. According to the latest data, 62 people were killed. Islamists from the Somalian Ash-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

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