Death toll rises to 59 in terror attack on Kenya shopping mall

At least 59 people have been killed and 175 others wounded after terrorists stormed an upscale shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Cabinet Secretary in charge of Internal Security Joseph Ole Lenku said that the security operation to free hostages who are still trapped inside the Westgate mall will continue.

He said the police managed to evacuate more than 1,000 people from the mall overnight, but a number of others still remain.

The development comes as fierce gunfire was heard from the mall on Sunday as the hostage standoff in Nairobi entered its second day amid heavy security around the building.

The militants from Somalia have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is retaliation for Kenya's military intervention in Somalia.

Al-Shabaab in Twitter account said it had warned there would be consequences when Kenyan soldiers entered southern Somalia to fight the militants.

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