Today, Kenyans are remembering the 2013 Westgate Mall attack that occurred on September 21, 2013. On that day, four armed Al-Shabaab militants stormed the upscale shopping centre in Nairobi's Westlands area. The attackers arrived at about 12:25 pm in a silver Mitsubishi Lancer and threw grenades near the mall's entrance before opening fire on shoppers. This event marked a dark day in Kenya's history, resulting in significant loss of life and injury.
The gunmen split into groups and moved through the mall, shooting at people inside. At the time of the attack, a children's cooking competition was taking place at the mall, and the attackers fired indiscriminately, killing and injuring shoppers, including children. Witnesses reported scenes of panic as people ran for safety or hid inside shops and other parts of the building. The chaos and fear experienced by those in the mall that day are still remembered.
The gunmen later regrouped inside the Nakumatt Supermarket, where they remained as Kenyan security forces launched an operation to secure the building and rescue those trapped inside. Security forces began their main operation at about 4 pm, several hours after the attack started. Police and military personnel surrounded the mall as civilians continued to escape through various exits. The response by security forces was crucial in eventually securing the mall.
During the response, members of the General Service Unit's specialised Recce Company and Kenya Defence Forces soldiers reportedly engaged each other in a friendly-fire incident after entering the mall separately and without adequate communication. The Recce commander, Martin Munene, was killed and two other officers were injured. This incident highlighted the challenges faced by security forces during the operation.
Civilians and security consultants also played a role in rescuing people trapped inside. Several armed and unarmed rescuers entered the mall under fire and helped shoppers, including women and children, reach safety. The bravery and selflessness of these individuals were instrumental in saving lives. The siege continued for several days as security forces searched the mall floor by floor.
The building was eventually declared secure on September 24. At least 71 people died in the attack, including 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and the four attackers. About 200 people were injured. The victims included Kenyans as well as foreign nationals from countries including the United Kingdom, India, Canada, France, Australia, China, Ghana, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, South Korea and Trinidad and Tobago.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was retaliation for Kenya's military intervention in Somalia. Investigators later identified four attackers and linked them to Al-Shabaab. Kenyan authorities also arrested people accused of helping the militants prepare for the attack. In the aftermath, there were efforts to bring those responsible to justice, including convictions of individuals involved in planning the attack.
Key points
- The 2013 Westgate Mall attack resulted in 71 deaths and 200 injuries.
- The attack was carried out by four Al-Shabaab militants.
- The siege lasted for several days before the building was declared secure on September 24.
