Kenya’s President claims mall siege is over

Kenya’s President is claiming security forces have finally defeated a group of militants after four days of fighting at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Uhuru Kenyatta made a televised address today about the attack.

Kenyatta claims the violent mall siege is over, and he’s declared three days of national mourning. In his televised address, the President said “we have ashamed and defeated our attackers.” He also added that five of the militants have been killed and 11 have been taken into custody.

Kenyatta says 72 people are dead, including 61 civilians, six security officers and the dead attackers. He also says there may be more bodies trapped inside the mall, because three of the mall’s floors collapsed during the attack. Some of those bodies trapped in the rubble reportedly include the dead militants.

Al-Shabaab militants said earlier today that they are holding their ground, and claimed they still had hostages inside the mall. However, Kenya’s president claims the fighting is officially over. Today he said, “fellow Kenyans, friends of Kenya, our solidarity, patience and resolve has seen us through the worst of this crisis. It is to you that I turned to strength, love and aid for those affected…for the forces of evil.”

Meanwhile, reports say up to 60 bodies are on their way to a morgue in Nairobi, and even more victims could be taken to the morgue shortly. 65 people remain unaccounted for.

Kenyatta said he wouldn’t confirm intelligence reports that a British woman and two or three Americans might be involved. He only would confirm that forensic scientists are trying to identify the nationalities of the militants.