Experts say body parts could be of Westgate terrorists

Forensic experts go through pieces of a leather jacket believed to belong to one of the Westgate mall attackers yesterday.

By  MARTIN MUTUA

Investigators at the scene of the Westgate attack have recovered remains of four people they suspect to be those of the terrorists.

They have also gathered items of clothing, burnt-out weapons and ammunition believed to belong to the attackers.

A forensic expert who spoke to The Standard on Saturday on condition of anonymity said body parts belonging to four yet unidentified people were found this week and that both local and international experts were busy carrying out investigations to determine their identities.

 Our sources disclosed that the foreign Interpol investigators who had flown out of the country before the search of the bodies was concluded are on their way back to investigate the findings.

“When we informed the Interpol officials their foreign counterparts who had since left the country have demanded to come back and verify whether what has been found is the correct position,” added the sources.

Among the items linked to the find is a black leather jacket presumably worn by one of the terrorists which the experts have been carrying out several tests on.

Lethal weapon

At the same time, the military have piled up pressure on forensic experts following the disappearance of one of their high-powered assault rifles.

The SCAR rifle, which was being used by one of the two soldiers who was killed by the terrorists has not been found, a move that has caused a lot of tension in the area.

“The military say they have to account for the rifle because they had managed to account for one from the two dead soldiers but cannot for the other and they have been pushing for sifting of the rubble,” added the sources.

According to a military official familiar with the investigation, the assault rifle could  cause a lot of serious damage if it is in the wrong hands.

The SCAR is far more superior weapon than the widely used AK 47s and M16s.

Meanwhile, all the vehicles that had been trapped when the mall caved in have finally been removed.