A gun battle inside a shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi,
has left at least 15 people dead, according to the Kenyan Red Cross.
Gunfire is ongoing and armed police are at the Westgate centre in the Westlands district - one of the city's most exclusive shopping malls. The gunmen are reported to be carrying assault rifles and wearing combat fatigues.
Police and security guards told the AFP news service that gunmen have also taken at least seven hostages.
One witness who spoke to Al Jazeera from inside the mall said the centre was busy with Saturday afternoon shoppers.
Another witness said the attackers threw grenades into the building at about midday local time (09:00 GMT).
Police said they had surrounded the Westgate mall, which is popular with wealthy Kenyans and expatriates, and urged residents to stay away from the area.
A witness from the Reuters news agency said he saw two wounded people stretchered out of the shopping centre, as panicked shoppers fled the building and armed police ducked behind vehicles outside.
One report says 80 people are trapped in the basement. Police say they have managed to escort some shoppers to safety but are still trying to capture the gunmen.
Gunfire is ongoing and armed police are at the Westgate centre in the Westlands district - one of the city's most exclusive shopping malls. The gunmen are reported to be carrying assault rifles and wearing combat fatigues.
Police and security guards told the AFP news service that gunmen have also taken at least seven hostages.
One witness who spoke to Al Jazeera from inside the mall said the centre was busy with Saturday afternoon shoppers.
Another witness said the attackers threw grenades into the building at about midday local time (09:00 GMT).
Police said they had surrounded the Westgate mall, which is popular with wealthy Kenyans and expatriates, and urged residents to stay away from the area.
A witness from the Reuters news agency said he saw two wounded people stretchered out of the shopping centre, as panicked shoppers fled the building and armed police ducked behind vehicles outside.
One report says 80 people are trapped in the basement. Police say they have managed to escort some shoppers to safety but are still trying to capture the gunmen.
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