In a suspected militant attack, gunfire and blasts were heard upscale hotel and office complex in Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The Kenyan security forces are battling to retake control of the complex.
According to initial reports, the Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab claimed their involvement but gave no details.
Gunfire and explosion reported on 14 Riverside Drive off Chiromo Road, Nairobi, four cars destroyed; police on site https://t.co/OpoaIlEJaC pic.twitter.com/xAkYIYF37h
— ktn (@KTNKenya) January 15, 2019
According to reports, the attack began at about 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) when some gunmen arrived at the complex by car, firing at the guards and threw bombs at vehicles in the car park.
“We are aware that armed criminals are holding up in the hotel and specialist forces are now currently flushing them out, “Kenya’s national police service Joseph Boinnet told reporters. “However, we regret to inform that there have been injuries in the attack and we are in the process of confirming the numbers and types of injuries incurred,” he added.
“Things are not good. People are dying,” an officer is quoted as saying by BBC.
DusitD2, the five-star under attack, located in the Westlands suburb has 101 rooms.
(More details awaited)