Kenyan president says 14 killed in hotel attack

NAIROBI, JAN 16 — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed on Wednesday that 14 people were killed and several others injured after a deadly attack on a hotel and business complex frequented by foreigners in the country’s capital.
Kenyatta told a televised news conference here that the security operation is over and all the terrorists who have attacked the DusitD2 Hotel complex have been eliminated, ending the 18-hour-long terror attack in the capital.
“The security operation at Dusit complex is over and all the terrorists (were) eliminated. We have confirmation that 14 innocent lives were lost through the hands of these murderous terrorists,” he said.
“We are grieving as a country this morning and my heart and that of every Kenyan goes out to the innocent men and women violated by senseless violence,” said Kenyatta.
The security teams have evacuated Kenyans and foreigners from the buildings during the operation.
Kenyatta vowed to enhance the fight against global terrorism, saying “terrorism will never defeat us.”
“We shall not surrender. We remain part of the international community standing in the fight against terror. The country is now secure,” the president added.
The police said six terrorists conducted the attack.
The Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has been targeting Kenya-Somalia border areas and killing innocent citizens since Kenyan soldiers entered Somalia in 2011 to secure the two countries’ shared border. – XINHUA