Two Indians Among 68 Killed, Kenya Hostage Crisis Continues


Nairobi/New Delhi: Two Indians were among 68 people killed in a deadly attack on Nairobi mall even as the attackers continued to hold a number of hostages, police confirmed Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the attack.

The attack Saturday by militant group Al Shabaab was in retaliation against Kenya's military intervention in neighbouring Somalia.

Over 150 people have been injured, some critically, in the attack.

In New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday wrote to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, condemning the "heinous and senseless" terrorist attack. While offering condolences to the bereaved families, he said he was confident Kenya "will have the strength and resilience to deal with this tragedy and respond firmly to the forces of terror ... We stand ready to assist you in your efforts".

Nearly 50 people remain unaccounted for in a tense standoff between Kenyan security forces and Al Shabaab suspects at the Westgate shopping mall, Xinhua reported citing Kenya Red Cross sources.

Kenyatta said the gunmen also killed one of his nephews and his fiancee.

In New Delhi, officials Sunday named the two Indians killed as Sridhar Natarajan, 40, from Tamil Nadu and an employee of a local pharmaceutical firm Harley's Limited; and Paramshu Jain, eight, the son of Manoj Jain, the branch manager of Industrial Area Branch, Bank of Baroda (Kenya Limited).

Source: IANS