Al-Shabab claim responsibility for Riverside attack

Somalia based militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack at 14 Riverside, Nairobi that has claimed the lives of three people.

In a report on its website, Al-Jazeera reports that the militia group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“We are currently conducting an operation in Nairobi,” the group’s military operations spokesman told Al Jazeera.

Gunshots and an explosion were heard at 14 Riverside at 3.00 pm. The Dusitd2 Hotel and Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) headquarters and other offices are stationed in the building.

Police at the scene told journalists that the attackers on a kill mission came in a car which witnesses said they saw in the area frequently in the weeks leading to the attack.

“Police wish to confirm that there has been an attack incident along 14 Riverside Drive. The area has since been cordoned off and motorists are advised to use alternative routes to facilitate smooth operations of the Police,” The National Police Service Commission said in a tweet.

The attack comes one day after a Westgate Mall terror attack suspect was released as the trial for the attack began. Sixty seven people died in the Westgate attack which took place in 2013.

The attack also comes on the anniversary of the deadly El-Adde attack in which 2,000 terrorists attacked a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Gedo region, Somalia and killed 500 Kenyan soldiers.