PG4: Happening in Africa

Happening in Africa

Latest African News is documented on this page for traveler's curiosity and safety, although information provided can be quite limited, page update 'links' to news web sources will be provided for more information.

LATEST NEWS UPDATES




Over 59 killed as Gunmen seize mall in Kenya | 22 September 2013

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- "Fifty-nine dead. At least 175 injured. About 30 hostages still inside, as well as perhaps a dozen gunmen, some in black, sources say."

People who had been hiding inside the mall during the gunfire flee the scene.

BBC NEWS Africa - "A senior figure in the Somali militant group al-Shabab has told the BBC it carried out a deadly attack on a shopping centre in neighbouring Kenya."

"This pregnant woman was separated from her husband and two-year-old daughter during the attack. She hid with about 20 others on the roof of the building and was eventually rescued by police and reunited."


UPDATES

BREAKING NEWS: "Kenya's military announced that its security forces have taken over most of the besieged mall in Nairobi and "most of the hostages have been rescued." http://on.cnn.com/QZYZDc

BREAKING NEWS: "Three of the attackers at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, are from the United States, according to sources within the terror group Al-Shabab." http://on.cnn.com/QZYZDc

23 September 2013

BREAKING NEWS: "Kenyan security forces say they are attempting to clear the Westgate shopping complex in Nairobi in order to bring to an end the three-day siege." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24206913

24 September 2013

BREAKING NEWS: “Three floors of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi collapsed during efforts to clear terrorists who had laid siege to the building for four days, trapping bodies inside, President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a televised address today.” http://on.cnn.com/1dGJafw

Visit CNN International for more on this story: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/22/world/africa/kenya-mall-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Zanzibar acid attack on two British travelers: Reward offered

BBC News | 9 August 2013 | Tanzania

Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee were in Tanzania as volunteers for the charity Art in Tanzania, both 18 and from London, had acid thrown on their faces, chests and hands.

Kirstie Trup (left) and Katie Gee

Musa Ali Musa, the island's Police Commissioner told the BBC that there was "no prime suspect" for the attack, and that “no-one has been arrested or charged”.

Zanzibar is known for its beautiful Islands, Hotels and beach life, and "tourism is the top income generator for the islands, outpacing even the lucrative agricultural export industry."

Surely a setback for one of the top tourist destinations in Africa. 

The police chief said it was the first time visitors to the island had been attacked in this way, “officers had no idea as to the motive”, he said. The girls' families supplied this picture of acid burns on one of the two victims:

“The Zanzibar government has offered a reward of 10m Tanzanian shillings (£3,970; $6,170) for information leading to the capture of attackers who threw acid at two UK women, police say.”

Follow this link for more information about this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23629334

Nairobi Airport on Fire

BBC News | 7 August 2013 Last updated at 12:15 GMT | Kenya

  A huge fire has ravaged the main international airport in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) - a key regional hub - has been closed, passengers evacuated and incoming flights diverted.

The fire is now said to have been contained but there have been reports that it took emergency services a long time to respond.

Images from the scene showed flames leaping from one of the main buildings.

 It turned into a huge blaze that spread to the arrivals area

 Some reports said heavy traffic on the road to the airport hindered emergency vehicles

 But some four hours after the blaze took hold it was reported to be controlled, with senior officials praising the work of the emergency services

Would-be passengers were left stranded

There have been no reports of any casualties and the cause of the fire is not clear.

Follow this link for more information about this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23598012