State House: Rescue operation underway at Westgate Shopping Mall, Nairobi

Security officers keep a crowd under control outside the Westgate Mall. [Photo: AP/Jason Straziuso

By Standard Reporter

NAIROBI; KENYA: Kenya State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu has said rescue operation is underway with a few hostages rescued.

Reports from the scene say more bodies are being retrieved from mall and ferried away in a pick up as death toll rises to 20.

Police officers have now surrounded the building in an attempt to evacuate remaining shoppers.

Esipisu pointed out that it was too early to tell if the incident was a terrorist attack adding that no foreign agencies have been involved in the rescue operation.

The military marksmen have also joined the police in the rescue operation.

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The members of the media have been barred from filming inside mall to enhance security.

According to Red Cross, most nearby hospitals are now full and causalities are being taken to Nairobi Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.

Dozens of ambulances have now been allowed to access the rooftop area as military armoured vehicles make way into the mall.

So far the Kenya Defence Force has been deployed at the mall to help guard the security. The Kenya RedCross is asking the public to donate blood to save dozens of wounded victims.

More to follow