<p>Heard about this–situation is ongoing. Many killed and injured. It seems so cowardly to me that civilians, including children are attacked. Very sad situation. Was surprised no one posted this. </p>
<p>[Gunmen</a> storm Nairobi mall in deadly attack - Al Jazeera English](<a href=“Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera”>Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera)</p>
<p>They are reporting that some of the gunmen are Americans of Somali descent. It is scary.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s very sad. Wow, I hadn’t heard that some of them are Americans!</p>
<p>My sister and two of her kids just flew through Nairobi to get to and from Malawi. My sister is not very adventurous - I’m still surprised she was willing to do that! I’ve been to South Africa, but I don’t think I would go to Kenya these days. </p>
<p>Even in South Africa, malls that were once upscale and safe are off-limits, because they have gotten dangerous. There are still nice malls, though. One we went to was cleaner and fancier than most of the ones in the US.</p>
<p>We went to Kenya in 1998 a few months after the embassy bombing. That was a scary time too. </p>
<p>The report is that three of the gunmen are American. They are from Minnesota and Missouri. Of course, you know how things change when these details come out early.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn - just remember that they are just now ‘reporting’ about Americans being involved. Which these days, means nothing to me anymore. I was so disappointed in the Naval Yard shooting reporting, all the speculation, etc. Yes, it could be true, but I’m waiting for further confirmation.</p>
<p>Ah, I was worried there might be Minnesota tie. There has been a lot of news here about Somali teens leaving to join terrorist groups.</p>
<p>teriwtt, you’re right. We’ll have to wait and see. Unbelievable, whoever they are.</p>
<p>On the same day, 77 people were killed in a suicide bombing at the All Saints Church of Pakistan in Peshawar, exploding as people were milling around after services. “Suicide bombers entered the church compound from the main gate and blew themselves up in the midst of the people,” a statement posted on the diocese website read. More than 120 were wounded. </p>
<p>On the day before (and the day before that), Boko Haram, the Islamist group in Nigeria, set up roadblocks, dragged people from their cars and killed them. So far 159 are dead. “We have been picking corpses off the roadsides all day, there are more in the bush,” said Abdulazeez Kolomi, an Environmental Protection Agency official in Benisheik village. “They are all travelers slaughtered by Boko Haram gunmen. We have so far picked up 143 corpses.”</p>
<p>You can see photos of people killed in Kenya on sites like the Daily Mail. A woman and her daughter shot dead in the front seat of the car. A woman dead at the foot of the escalator. A couple holding each other, shot dead. </p>
<p>A string of attacks in Iraq, mostly bombings of Shia funerals, killed at least 96 on Saturday. 72 were killed when a bomber drove up to a mourning tent in Sadr City, Baghdad.</p>
<p>As much as I hope it doesn’t have an American connection, it is a horrible situation none the less, and just may play out that way.</p>
<p>intparent - I’d never heard of this, but did a quick google search and read that Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country. I never knew this.</p>
<p>It is a sadly violent world. I hadn’t heard rumors that any of the gunmen were/are Americans. Never heard anything about militants from Minnesota. There certainly is a lot of rage and violence loose in the world right now.</p>
<p>I was watching CNN, which sometimes gets it wrong in its haste to be first.</p>
<p>So far our local papers are not reporting a link. But it won’t surprise me if it turns out to be the case. It has seemed so incongruous with the rest of Minnesota culture as they have been reporting on these teens/young men disappearing from MN and reported to be joining militant groups. But Al-Shabab is one of the groups they have been reported to be joining. Here is an NPR story from four years ago on it:</p>
<p>[Missing</a> Somali Teens May Be Terrorist Recruits : NPR](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99919934]Missing”>Missing Somali Teens May Be Terrorist Recruits : NPR)</p>
<p>MD Mom - they’re not the only ones reporting it. And yes, the competition to be the first, especially in the day of social media, is almost sickening.</p>
<p>Sadly enough, these attacks occurred a few days after Ayman al Zawahiri called for more attacks. Now, I would bet that these attacks were already planned out ahead of time, but it is a sad testament to the world that we live in.</p>
<p>I have a VERY close friend in kenya right now. I hope shes allright.</p>
<p>Sweetcupcake, she probably is fine. This was in Nairobi and there are lots of other places to be.</p>
<p>It’s a scary world outside of North America (by which I really just mean America and Canada).</p>
<p>Rumors are that the White Widow is behind it.</p>
<p>My S1 was in Nairobi last year & visited this mall. It was the threat of al-Shebab activity, coupled with being in the wrong place at the wrong time, that made me anxious the entire time he was gone. I am heartbroken for the victims of this attack.</p>
<p>My son got back from a month in Kenya less than three weeks ago. He then went to visit a friend in Boston… He lives in NYC. Building hit by planes, Mall bombings, Marathon bombings, its why I’m glad he lives each day to the fullest and doesn’t let these event over which he has no control stop him from doing so.</p>
<p>Where IS “safe?”</p>