Forensic experts comb Westgate Mall for evidence

Westgate Mall: Forensic experts from Israel. United States, and UK have joined to conduct post-attack analysis

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI, KENYA: A team of forensic experts from Israel, the United States and United Kingdom have joined the Kenyan team in carrying out analysis at Westgate mall.  

Those from CID headquarters and military are also at the mall combing for details on the bodies that are trapped there. 

They want to know details of the bodies because some of them are badly mutilated and could be terrorists. 

Dozens of bodies of hostages are believed to be trapped there after three floors of the building collapsed in the four days’ siege. 

Some of the victims were heard screaming as the house crumbled. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the bodies include those of the terrorists and the hostages. 

Secretary to the Cabinet Mr Francis Kimemia said the experts will assist the local team comb the mall and that Kenya will lead the exercise. 

He added the President had summoned a meeting of the National Security Council Wednesday to discuss the attack. 

"The President has summoned a special cabinet meeting and National Security Council to take stock of lessons learnt and formulate way forward," he said on his twitter. 

On the scene of the attack, Kimemia said priority will focus on debris clearance to facilitate immediate recovery of bodies. 

The mall was retaken on Tuesday after a gunfight with the attackers that left 67 people including six members of the security forces. 

Five of the terrorists were also killed in the firefight inside Westgate, while 11 suspected accomplices were arrested elsewhere in the city. 

The suspects, some of whom were nabbed while trying to flee and at the scene of the attack are under probe. 

Police were stationed on roads near the mall and turned away pedestrians and motorists from accessing them.

Mortuary attendants and officials from the Scenes of Crime were allowed into the mall to collect evidence and bodies respectively.

The siege started on Saturday when terrorists stormed the mall and attacked people with guns and grenades.

The siege continued for days affecting operations near there that prompted a major security activities.

It has since emerged some of the terrorists were foreigners including those from USA and Britain.