Kenya Red Cross: Death Toll in Westgate Mall Attack Rises to 68 After More Bodies Found

Kenya Red Cross: Death Toll in Westgate Mall Attack Rises to 68 After More Bodies Found
Trucks of soldiers from the Kenya Defense Forces arrive after dawn outside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Islamic extremist gunmen lobbed grenades and fired rifles inside Nairobi's top mall Saturday, killing dozens and wounding over a hundred in the attack. Early Sunday morning, 12 hours after the attack began, gunmen remained holed up inside the mall with an unknown number of hostages. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Zachary Stieber
9/22/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

NAIROBI, Kenya—Kenya’s Red Cross says the death toll from the militant attack on an upscale mall in the country’s capital has risen to 68.

In a statement Sunday the Red Cross said nine more bodies were recovered in a joint rescue mission. Officials say more than 175 people were wounded in the attack.

Gunmen used grenades and assault rifles in Saturday’s attack at the Westgate mall in Nairobi. Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

An estimated 10 to 15 militants remain in the shopping mall holding an unknown number of captives. The Kenyan military has entered the four-story mall and there have been sporadic gun battles. Some Kenyan military were seen carrying in at least two rocket propelled grenades. Earlier military helicopters hovered over the mall.