The investigation into the terrorist attack perpetrated by the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab over the weekend, has been joined by forensic experts from the U.S. Germany, UK, Canada and Interpol. The experts have begun combing the Westgate mall for DNA and ballistic clues, Joseph Ole Lenku, the country's interior minister said.
Ole Lenku confirmed at a news conference that while five terrorists are already dead, bodies of more terrorists were expected to be found.
"We have moved to the next phase," Ole Lenku said. The forensic audit is expect to take at least seven days.
Al-Shabaab stormed the Westgate center on Saturday, throwing grenades and fired indiscriminately at shoppers and staff, news reports said. The siege lasted three days. The militant organization says it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia, and for removing Kenyan troops out of its country.
The mall, which includes shops for Nike, Adidas and Bose, is popular with foreigners and wealthy Kenyans. The complex is also Israeli-owned.
During the attack, al-Shabaab specifically targeted non-Muslims.
The specific number of those killed in the attack remains unclear, but BBC reported that at least 18 foreigners were among the dead, including six Britons, as well as citizens from France, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and China.
What is also confirmed is that nearly 200 people were wounded in the attack, which includes five Americans.
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