On Tuesday afternoon, five gunmen attacked the Dusit D2 hotel and office complex on Riverside Drive in the Westlands area of Nairobi.
If you are in Kenya or will be heading there in the coming days, follow the twitter accounts featured below to stay up to date with travel advice and information. If you are travelling to Kenya for work, make sure you have received a relevant and up to date security briefing, and know what to do if something should happen. If you have not received this, talk to your boss as soon as possible.
What happened
At least 21 people were killed, including an American businessman Jason Spindler and British aid worker Luke Potter. Two employees of Adam Smith International working on the Somalia Stability Fund were also among the dead. In total, sixteen Kenyans and three other Africans were killed. Over 700 people were rescued during the 20 hour security operation.
Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a response to ‘US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.’
Security teams extracting clients
Several multinational corporations – including Pernod Ricard, Dow Chemical, LG Electronics, and Colgate Palmolive – have offices in the area, as it is meant to be one of the most secure parts of the city. Reuters reports a private security guard as saying ‘about a dozen armed foreigners of various nationalities were also there… including embassy staff and private security advisers trying to rescue clients.’
The article also mentions that the police were communicating with guests at the hotel via text message, telling them that they were aware of their location and would rescue them soon.
A British special forces soldier was photographed helping with the evacuations. The Independent states that he is ‘part of a British training team based in Kenya and was at the scene mentoring Kenyan troops who had been deployed‘ to the incident.
Information and advice from Governments
#Nairobi #Kenya Security Alert: The Government of Kenya has advised that all terrorists involved in the Dusit2 Hotel attack have been neutralized. Follow-on security operations continue. Avoid the area and remain in known safe areas. https://t.co/WmZJALyB5d pic.twitter.com/Jx292QOBNU
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) January 16, 2019
UPDATE: Following the Kenyan authorities’ confirmation that the security operation at the DusitD2 has concluded, our updated travel advice is available here – https://t.co/zAHc8ClJSc
Please continue to avoid the immediate area and remain vigilant. #KenyaAttack— UK in Kenya (@UKinKenya) January 16, 2019
“If you’re in Nairobi or you’re worried about people here please do continue to follow our travel advice.” @HCNicHailey | #KenyaAttack
➡️ https://t.co/tIjN4wEDps
➡️ @UKinKenya
➡️ https://t.co/Nd1c8dDxLA— Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) January 16, 2019
#Kenya The Kenyan government has stated that the security operation in the Riverside area of Nairobi has concluded. You should remain vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities. https://t.co/nCN2R71awe pic.twitter.com/RisZkKyXxD
— FCO travel advice (@FCOtravel) January 16, 2019
Due to the ongoing security incident at the 14 Riverside complex, the Australian High Commission in Nairobi will be closed on Wednesday January 16th
For emergencies consular assistance call:
+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
1300 555 135 from within Australia
+61 421 269 080 for SMS— Alison Chartres (@AusHCKenya) January 16, 2019
UPDATE: Security operations by Kenyan authorities in the Dusit Hotel and its vicinity are ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and remain in known safe areas. https://t.co/nnV806APYt @BobGodec
— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) January 15, 2019
#Nairobi. On 15 January 2019, an attack occurred at the DusitD2 hotel complex in Nairobi. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and be alert to possible new security risks. https://t.co/TtbUMsrGqY
— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) January 15, 2019
#Kenya Security Alert: In light of the January 15 terrorist attack on the DusitD2 Hotel in Nairobi, the U.S. Embassy reminds the public of the continued need for vigilance in public spaces such as shopping malls, hotels, and places of worship. https://t.co/NWbCAzI3pP pic.twitter.com/uUAN5DC9Gw
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) January 18, 2019
Further news and information
- ABC News: American killed in Nairobi terror attack wanted ‘to help people,’ his parents say
- ABC News: Kenya’s deadly hotel attack: A timeline of how it occurred
- BBC News: Kenya attack: Who are the Nairobi victims?
- Voice of America: Kenya’s Leader Vows to Hunt Down Terrorists After Deadly Attack
- Voice of America: Anguished Families Identify Victims After Kenya Hotel Attack
- Reuters: Kenya hotel siege over, militants and at least 21 victims dead
- The Independent: Who was the SAS soldier with pirate badge pictured at scene of Nairobi terrorist attack?
- Deutsche Welle: Kenya terror attack highlights security challenges
- Bloomberg: Nairobi Attack a Blow for Vulnerable Kenyan Tourism Industry
- Al Jazeera: Kenya attack: All accounted for in al-Shabab hotel raid
- Capital FM Kenya: More blasts expected as explosives left by Nairobi terrorists detonated
- Daily Nation: Govt issues security guarantee for Nairobi world athletics meet
- Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: Exchange student from Tupelo safe after Nairobi terror attack
- 9news.com.au: ‘I really don’t know how I’ll respond’: Aussie survives Kenya hotel attack
- Mirror.co.uk: SAS hero who stormed Kenya hotel alone ‘was out shopping as terrorists attacked’
A spokesman for Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for what he said is “an on-going operation in Nairobi”. Some of the latest pictures from #riversideattack: pic.twitter.com/jwRROVmsgj
— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) January 15, 2019
Video footage shows a bystander innocently looking at a bomber involved in the Nairobi terror attack, who seconds later set off a suicide vest killing dozens of people.
21 people were killed in the attack – read the full story here: https://t.co/GFdjZAfT1F pic.twitter.com/4WCAzlxi8T
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 17, 2019
Kenya is seen as one of Africa’s more successful states.Yet its vulnerability to terrorism has long been a weakness https://t.co/eg66djkmgq
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) January 17, 2019
Last 19 missing after deadly Nairobi hotel attack now accounted for: Red Cross https://t.co/Kn7vHE08HI pic.twitter.com/GR6wA9h3AX
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 17, 2019
#BREAKING: The Australian High Commission in Nairobi is seeking information about reports an Australian has been killed in a terror attack that killed 21 people.
BACKGROUND: https://t.co/BiLICZPq7t pic.twitter.com/XnHxFFmYST
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 17, 2019
A lot of remarkable people were killed in Nairobi yesterday. Jason Spindler is one of them: On 9/11, he ran into the rubble to pull people out as everyone else ran the other way, his best friend told me. Then terrorists killed him in Nairobi. https://t.co/4y2owSB7CK
— Siobhán O’Grady (@siobhan_ogrady) January 16, 2019
A luxury hotel and an office complex housing foreign companies in Nairobi came under heavy attack by Shabab militants on Tuesday, on the eve of a verdict in the trial of 4 men charged with helping the group stage a similar assault 5 years ago https://t.co/SQ63iNQ0Zo
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 15, 2019
We have heard from some readers upset with our publishing a photo showing victims after a brutal attack in Nairobi. We understand how painful this coverage can be, and we try to be very sensitive in how we handle both words and images in these situations. https://t.co/Qjm0qBMaF3 pic.twitter.com/1sqgTnnVKW
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 15, 2019
Like what you read? You can sign up here for our free Daily Updates. We also send out a Weekly K+R Update, bundling together all the kidnap, ransom and extortion news of the week in one easy to read newsletter. (Sign up on the same form using the options at the end.) |
---|
If you found this post valuable, please show your appreciation by buying us a coffee. Thank you.