Al Shabab denies reports of 'White Widow's' involvement in Nairobi mall massacre

The wife of 7/7 suicide bomber, Jermaine Lindsay, who was the 'prime suspect' behind the Nairobi shopping mall massacre, which has so far killed 68 people, is not behind the deadly assault.

An alleged commander in the Somali al-Shahab rebel group has denied reports that women are involved in the hostage standoff at the mall.

Abu Omar said that Samantha Lewthwaite, the widow of one of the suicide bombers in the 2005 attacks on the London transport network, was not the masterminded behind the attack.

Omar, who claimed he had been in contact with the Islamist attackers inside the Westgate shopping centre, also said the militants would not negotiate to end the attack.

According to the Courier Mail, earlier, media reports had said that Lewthwaite was the prime suspect behind the Nairobi mall assault.

Omar said that these were baseless rumours, as they did not hire women to carry out military attacks.

Heavy gunfire and loud explosions were heard at the mall on Monday as Kenyan troops fought Islamist militants who were still holding hostages, the report said.

The siege has so far left 69 people dead, with another 63 missing, according to the Kenyan Red Cross.