Shooting at Nairobi Shopping Mall

[Content Note: Guns; violence; terrorism.]

Over the weekend, there was a devastating assault on a Nairobi shopping mall, in which at least 70 people have been killed and dozens more injured. There are still people being held hostage, although many of them have now escaped. The siege continues, as Kenya's security forces close in on the shooters, identified as Somali al Shabaab Islamists, who are "demanding Kenya pull out troops from its northern neighbor, where they have put the al Qaeda-affiliated group on the defensive in the past two years."

Here are some good articles with more details: Reuters; BBC; New York Times; Guardian. Please note there may be images of violence at these links.

See also the WaPo's "10 things to know about Somalia's militant group al-Shabab."

There are US-born fighters among al-Shabab's ranks, and there may be US-born assailants at the Westgate Mall.

Which is, of course, not the only way the United States is connected to Somalian terrorism, and the void of stability in which groups like al-Shabab were born, and the weapons in their hands. I won't go into a history lesson, but our (and other nations') foreign policy in the African region is on-topic for this thread.

My sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the victims of this massacre. I hope the survivors will get the support that they need, and justice, and peace.