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In pictures: Gunmen rampage in Nairobi mall

Police and military units hunt the gunmen behind a killing spree in Kenya’s capital.

A rescue worker helps a child outside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya Saturday, September 21, 2013, after Al Shabaab gunmen opened fire and reportedly threw grenades during an attack that left dozens dead and wounded.
A rescue worker helps a child outside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya Saturday, September 21, 2013, after Al Shabaab gunmen opened fire and reportedly threw grenades during an attack that left dozens dead and wounded.
21 Sep 2013

A gunbattle inside a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has left at least 30 people dead and more than 50 injured, authorities said.

Gunfire has been exchanged for hours after Kenyan troops and elite units joined police fighting gunmen in Nairobi’s upmarket Westgate shopping centre on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Somalia-based Al Shabaab armed group said it was responsible for the attack.

While Kenya’s Internal Security Minister Mutea Iringo said that the government is now “fully in charge” of the situation, those at the scene disagree.

“There’s been no indication that [the situation] is under control,” freelance journalist Alan Boswell told Al Jazeera from outside the shopping centre.

An injured person arrives in an ambulance at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after an attack at the Westgate Mall, an upscale shopping centre in Kenya(***)s capital.
An injured person arrives in an ambulance at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after an attack at the Westgate Mall, an upscale shopping centre in Kenya(***)s capital.
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Armed police search Westgate Shopping Centre after gunmen stormed the popular shopping mall, killing dozens of people, including children, and sending scores fleeing into shops and onto the streets in search of safety. Police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop.
Armed police search Westgate Shopping Centre after gunmen stormed the popular shopping mall, killing dozens of people, including children, and sending scores fleeing into shops and onto the streets in search of safety. Police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop.
Police officers try to secure an area inside the Westgate Shopping Centre where gunmen went on a shooting spree. Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started, as soldiers surrounded the mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop.
Police officers try to secure an area inside the Westgate Shopping Centre where gunmen went on a shooting spree. Sporadic gun shots could be heard hours after the assault started, as soldiers surrounded the mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop.
Shoppers fled as police attempted to secure the shopping mall.
Shoppers fled as police attempted to secure the shopping mall.
A mother and her children hide as gunmen from the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab armed group wrought havoc on Saturday at the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, killing at least 59 people.
A mother and her children hide as gunmen from the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab armed group wrought havoc on Saturday at the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, killing at least 59 people.
Police officers combed the downtown shopping mall, which was packed with Saturday morning shoppers at the time of the attack.
Police officers combed the downtown shopping mall, which was packed with Saturday morning shoppers at the time of the attack.
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The rampage left dozens dead and injured. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.
The rampage left dozens dead and injured. Some local television stations reported hostages had been taken, but there was no official confirmation.
Shoppers scramble for safety as armed police hunt the gunmen.
Shoppers scramble for safety as armed police hunt the gunmen.
Many of the injured victims were supported by their fellow shoppers as they evacuated the popular shopping mall.
Many of the injured victims were supported by their fellow shoppers as they evacuated the popular shopping mall.
The gunmen were reported to have shot children during the prolonged attack.
The gunmen were reported to have shot children during the prolonged attack.
Police were forced to take cover outside the shopping centre as further shots rang out, hours after the beginning of the attack.
Police were forced to take cover outside the shopping centre as further shots rang out, hours after the beginning of the attack.
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