Panic at Nairobi's Galleria Mall after motorist rams into cars prompting shooting

NAIROBI, KENYA: There was panic at the Galleria Shopping Mall in Nairobi on Monday afternoon when a driver lost control of his car and rammed into other cars causing a tyre burst.

The ramming caused a tyre burst and emission of smoke, which prompted police officers on duty there to shoot to the air three times fearing it was intentionally caused by criminals or terrorists.

The incident caused panic among shoppers and other people at the busy mall for several minutes before the situation was calmed.

Some of those present mistook it for an attack and called newsrooms and police seeking for help.

Police said the incident was caused by a driver who may have been sick out of epilepsy.  Dozens of police were later mobilised there to cover the scene.

Witnesses said police commandos who had earlier on mistaken it for an attack arrived at the scene to confirm.

"We saw the fastest response from all emergency providers including police who mistook the incident for a terror attack. I saw officers from GSU, AP and CID within a short while after it happened," said a witness.

In the meantime, some occupants at the mall were being evacuated in a huff. Witnesses said customers at various food joints at the mall scampered for safety thinking it was an attack.

Shoppers too off from the mall before reports came out there was no attack. And even after the situation had calmed, some shoppers and occupants of the  mall left.

Police who attended the scene said there was no threat and the driver behind the incident had been taken to hospital.