by Dheeraj Nanduri
It would have probably been yet another pleasant day for the shopaholics and the mall addicts to waste another day in their life in the posh Westgate mall in Nairobi.
Luxuriously blessed with various shops which sold many different things, it catered to the masses from the city itself and even to the visitors from abroad. Many of the visitors that visited the mall on that day, that shall be hard to forget by the entire world, were diplomats from Canada, tourists from Britain, many Dutchmen, Indians and people even from China.
The mall attack was executed by 12-15 militants. Well, numbers are inaccurate because technically no one knows anything yet. The mall was under siege for two days before the police could finally force in to the mall to stop them. Well, the delay can never be fully understood except that the police were planning their rescue operation in a careful manner so that they don’t put the lives of the innocent multicultural group of citizens at risk. The rescue operation however involved the intervention of the military force too. Sadly, the majority of ruckus created in the mall was also due to the rescue operation. I tell you, military operation means a mess for sure; before execution, during it and after it too.
The mall attack was executed by 12-15 militants. Well, numbers are inaccurate because technically no one knows anything yet. The mall was under siege for two days before the police could finally force in to the mall to stop them. Well, the delay can never be fully understood except that the police were planning their rescue operation in a careful manner so that they don’t put the lives of the innocent multicultural group of citizens at risk. The rescue operation however involved the intervention of the military force too. Sadly, the majority of ruckus created in the mall was also due to the rescue operation. I tell you, military operation means a mess for sure; before execution, during it and after it too.
Before all this could actually happen, the death toll in the mall already rose to 68 and with over 175 people inside injured. It was majorly a religion biased attack. The attack was by the militant group that call themselves the Al Shabaab, which are in alliance with the Al Qaeda. They, in fact, called the attackers they sent as *warriors* and even issued further threats that they shall continue to do so.
I understand the vengeance but the causes, for the entire world too, are unclear. The major reason that was found out by many is that the Kenyan military troops have come into the Somali border to destroy the militant group. Well, once they threaten the existence of something, they must be willing to face the consequences of its defense. Also, the Kenyan troops have already forced out the Al Shabaab from their urban stronghold to the Somali port city of Kismayo. But the militant group has now poked the bear with a sword. Two things from this are possible, one, the entire world will group together to shut down the militant group, or two, fearing the threats the Kenyan army might return to their own soil.
In the commencement of the siege and attack the militants announced that Muslims shall leave the mall and they shall remain unharmed by the Al Shabaab. Some, too scared to get out, remained while a few others managed to escape. By this time, owing to the modern technology, messages were being exchanged between everyone in the mall that an attack is happening and everyone hid for their lives. The militants actually tested them on the verses from Quran and the ones who failed were killed. The Muslims, knowing that, managed to escape, but some who were taught those verses during the attack by fellow Muslims fell victims. Attacks such as this actually cover the entire cause of the attack. They only spark a new breed of Muslim haters. If their motive was to just get the Kenyan troops out, this wasn't the way it was supposed to be done.
By using religion as a weapon to the world, they are only bringing a terrible name to the religion itself. If what they pray and everything is sacred, I don’t understand how making their own religion look bad is justified. Religion is being manipulated in twisted ways by these terrorists. The hostages who tried to actually recite these verses, those who were able to and those who failed, are the real ambassadors for the Islamic religion and not those militants.
The Kenyan Red Cross announced that over 61 people still remain missing. Some of them are suspected to have somehow escaped and some lie lifeless amidst the rubble in the mall. The military rescue operation however came with a price. The government and the officials from the troops announced that they had used Rocket propelled Grenades to open up the mall and this may have caused the collapse of the three floors in the mall. This, they believe, and I too, may have caused a few more deaths. Sincerely, they couldn’t have done it in a much more careful manner. The militants were said to have been possessed enough weaponry and arms on each of them to reduce the mall to nothing.
I understand the vengeance but the causes, for the entire world too, are unclear. The major reason that was found out by many is that the Kenyan military troops have come into the Somali border to destroy the militant group. Well, once they threaten the existence of something, they must be willing to face the consequences of its defense. Also, the Kenyan troops have already forced out the Al Shabaab from their urban stronghold to the Somali port city of Kismayo. But the militant group has now poked the bear with a sword. Two things from this are possible, one, the entire world will group together to shut down the militant group, or two, fearing the threats the Kenyan army might return to their own soil.
In the commencement of the siege and attack the militants announced that Muslims shall leave the mall and they shall remain unharmed by the Al Shabaab. Some, too scared to get out, remained while a few others managed to escape. By this time, owing to the modern technology, messages were being exchanged between everyone in the mall that an attack is happening and everyone hid for their lives. The militants actually tested them on the verses from Quran and the ones who failed were killed. The Muslims, knowing that, managed to escape, but some who were taught those verses during the attack by fellow Muslims fell victims. Attacks such as this actually cover the entire cause of the attack. They only spark a new breed of Muslim haters. If their motive was to just get the Kenyan troops out, this wasn't the way it was supposed to be done.
By using religion as a weapon to the world, they are only bringing a terrible name to the religion itself. If what they pray and everything is sacred, I don’t understand how making their own religion look bad is justified. Religion is being manipulated in twisted ways by these terrorists. The hostages who tried to actually recite these verses, those who were able to and those who failed, are the real ambassadors for the Islamic religion and not those militants.
The Kenyan Red Cross announced that over 61 people still remain missing. Some of them are suspected to have somehow escaped and some lie lifeless amidst the rubble in the mall. The military rescue operation however came with a price. The government and the officials from the troops announced that they had used Rocket propelled Grenades to open up the mall and this may have caused the collapse of the three floors in the mall. This, they believe, and I too, may have caused a few more deaths. Sincerely, they couldn’t have done it in a much more careful manner. The militants were said to have been possessed enough weaponry and arms on each of them to reduce the mall to nothing.
However the military and police believe to have killed at least 5 terrorists in their attack and they took in 11 suspects, out of which 3 were released, leaving 8. Nobody knows anything for sure because the faces of the militants have not yet been completely recognized. The police also say that many might have escaped.
What I do not get from that point is, how they could have escaped, if they got out, they should have been found out. It could also be that the police even let go of them thinking they were survivors. However surveillance has been tightened all over the country for any suspicious activity.
Now the entire world knows about the Al Shabaab, mission accomplished. However considering the magnitude of this attack, isn’t there a possibility of this attack being an inside job or maybe just help? What can we say? We just have to accept what happened with grief. Transparency vanishes the moment government gets the power. FBI agents from the US and many investigators have been sent to the crime site to figure out anything that they possibly can.
The major lead the police have got until now is that they have found the car that transported the terrorists to the mall. Some say that the militants remained in the mal for two or more days prior to the attack. Well, how could they have let that slip? No security?
However this has brought the tab of security at magnification to the mall owners worldwide and they should make it obvious too. Yet surprises could be there. Now all that we can do is wait and see what the government does for this. Many influential people have given their comments but yet nothing rock solid for any further action.
The US and all the other countries are now worried about their imitations on their own land. Worry is one part but fear is another. Worry can spark offense and reduce the threat, fear can only cause defense and increase the threat.
What I do not get from that point is, how they could have escaped, if they got out, they should have been found out. It could also be that the police even let go of them thinking they were survivors. However surveillance has been tightened all over the country for any suspicious activity.
Now the entire world knows about the Al Shabaab, mission accomplished. However considering the magnitude of this attack, isn’t there a possibility of this attack being an inside job or maybe just help? What can we say? We just have to accept what happened with grief. Transparency vanishes the moment government gets the power. FBI agents from the US and many investigators have been sent to the crime site to figure out anything that they possibly can.
The major lead the police have got until now is that they have found the car that transported the terrorists to the mall. Some say that the militants remained in the mal for two or more days prior to the attack. Well, how could they have let that slip? No security?
However this has brought the tab of security at magnification to the mall owners worldwide and they should make it obvious too. Yet surprises could be there. Now all that we can do is wait and see what the government does for this. Many influential people have given their comments but yet nothing rock solid for any further action.
The US and all the other countries are now worried about their imitations on their own land. Worry is one part but fear is another. Worry can spark offense and reduce the threat, fear can only cause defense and increase the threat.