Kenyan hotel under siege by terrorists, police exchange fire

There is tension in Kenyan capital, Nairobi, after suspected militants stormed the compound of an upscale hotel and office complex on Tuesday afternoon in what has been described as a “suspected terror attack.”

Videos emerging from the scene showed people fleeing the scene, while others were being escorted by officials and staff of the hotel amidst gunfire and explosion.

Several people have so far been reported injured and some cars have been torched, according to the CNN.

As of the time of filing this story, some of the gunmen were still at the compound in the Westlands district of the Kenyan capital, which houses the DusitD2 hotel and offices.

“We are aware that armed criminals are holding up in the hotel and specialist forces are currently flushing them out,” Joseph Boinnet, the
inspector general of Kenya’s national police service said at a news conference.

“However, we regret to inform that there have been injuries in the attack and we are in the process of confirming the numbers and types of injuries incurred.”

Somalia-based militant group, Al-Shabaab have since claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack comes as the country marks the three-year anniversary of an Al-Shabaab attack on the El Adde military base which killed over 140 Kenyan soldiers.

Here’s how people are reacting to the development: