Issues in Nairobi, Kenya

It's scary to think that a place you've visited is splashed all over the news for something horrifying. The faces of fear you see were only images of a dream that you had after hearing stories describing past struggles of stability and violence. The safety of those friendly and loving people you met is a concern as you remember the connections you made.

The nightmare started at Nairobi's Westgate Mall on Saturday when 10 to 15 gunmen began shooting at random as they went through different stores and took hostages. The attack  has left 60+ dead, caused 170+ injuries and 60+ hospitalized. CNN is considering this the "bloodiest terrorist attack" since the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi was attacked in 1998 and the death toll may still rise as there are 65 people who haven't been accounted for and floors have collapsed leaving some trapped. It is said that five of the terrorists have been killed and 11 others have been arrested as possible connections. President Uhuru Kenyatta told CNN that forensic teams believe the attacks are the doing of the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terror group.

According to US Today, Al-Shabaab tweeted about the attacks throughout the weekend. One tweet read, "The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting #Kenyan Kuffar inside their own turf." Another tweet made by the group gave some insight into the reason for the attacks by saying, " What Kenyans are witnessing at #Westgate is retributive justice for crimes committed by their military." The group members weren't the only ones tweeting about the incidents. CBS News showed a tweet on their website from the Kenya Defense* Forces page that said, "We hail the efforts  of the brave and selfless men and women who are putting their lives on the line in the Defence of our country." That  was not the only tweets the Defense Forces posted, below are some other tweets.

Both news outlets and tweets are still keeping up with the story.

Cites used: CNN article #1
                  USA Today
                  CBS News
               
*-denotes that groups page is spelled with a "C" and not an "S"