Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed shock over the terror attack in a mall in Nairobi. Dr. Singh also directed to Ministry of External Affairs to extend help to Indian nationals who were victims of Nairobi attack.
In a message to President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya Dr Manmohan Singh said this incident was a stark reminder that the persisting menace of terrorism remains a formidable challenge that calls for a concerted and sustained response from the global community. He said India condemned in the strongest terms this heinous and senseless assault, which has snuffed out so many innocent lives, including nationals of both the countries. Dr Singh assured Kenya that India stands ready to assist the country in this hour of grief.
In Kenyan capital Nairobi, atleast 59 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured as fierce fight between Somali Islamist militants and Kenyan soldiers continued for the second consecutive day today. The militants are holding unspecified number of hostages while being locked in a stand-off with security forces at the part Israeli-owned upscale shopping mall in Nairobi. Troops have managed to evacuate over 1,000 people from the mall.
There were conflicting reports about the number of militants with a minister saying there were 10 to 15 heavily armed men while some of the witnesses said they had seen four men in black, their heads covered in scarves.
Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked Shebab rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two Indians, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed and four other community members, including two women and a girl, were injured in the attack, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi.
While one of the victims 40-year-old Sridhar Natarajan was working with a pharma firm, the boy Paramshu Jain was the son of a manager of the local Bank of Baroda branch, he said.
The spokesperson said in New Delhi that the Mission is providing all medical aid to the four Indian nationals injured in the attack. He said India fully sympathises with Kenya and extends support to Kenyan government.
