39 killed, 150 injured in terrorist attack at Kenya shopping mall

At least 39 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in a possible terrorist attack at Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, with dozens of hostages still trapped inside.

According to the Mirror, men armed with AK47s and grenades opened fire inside the Westgate Mall in the affluent Westlands area of Nairobi, and the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group said that the mass shooting was justice for crimes committed by Kenyan troops in Somalia.

In a televised address, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta said 39 people had died in the attack and 150 were injured, according to the report.

He said security forces were in the process of 'neutralising the attackers and securing the mall' in what was a 'delicate' operation but that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

One of the gunmen, who was shot and arrested, has now died, the report said.

Satpal Singh, who was in the mall, said that a Somali guy had shot at him and the guy was carrying an AK-47 rifle.

Earlier, large groups of people were seen streaming out of the centre, some of whom were covered in blood and clutching small children, the report added.

The volleys of gunfire moved outside the centre after police arrived nearly half-an-hour after the attacks began and engaged the gunmen, the report further said.