An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 23 When Kenyan security forces arrived on the scene they failed to establish a cordon or to take proper command and control of the situation. Many of the wounded were left outside on the pavement and confusion reigned as members of the security forces tried to gain entry to the centre while terrified shoppers were rushing out. A fleet of ambulances arrived to ferry the wounded to the hospital and mall security guards used shopping carts to transport wounded children out of the building. The local hospital was quickly overwhelmed with the injured and had to divert victims to another facility. The security forces tried to use tear gas on the attackers but the gunmen had secured themselves away from any attempt to smoke them out. Mean- while, a number of international security contract workers made their way to the mall, gained entry and assisted hundreds of civilians to safety outside. People trickled out from their hiding places as Kenyan forces began moving from floor to floor in an attempt to secure the building and neutralise the attackers. However, the gunmen had secured a number of positions and had taken hostages to hamper any attempt to attack them. Later in the day, the gunmen took control of the CCTV control room and were able to monitor the security forces' activities. While offers of international help were refused by the Kenyan authorities, who believed that they had the situation under control, conflicting reports and the failure of command and control at the scene led to further confusion and aided the insurgents in their mission. The attack was meticulously planned as the insurgents had carried out a reconnaissance of the mall in advance of their attack. Entry and exit points had been identified and the areas where the majority of shoppers congre- gated, for example coffee shops, etc, were targeted. Automatic weapons and hand grenades were used to maximum effect. Rather than a suicide attack on a soft-skinned target, this was aimed at drawing the world's attention to Kenya and its involvement in Somalia. The attack featured in every branch of the media and was broadcast live throughout the world. Due to the poor reaction to the attack, with the police being outgunned and the army arriving on the scene with little or no intel- ligence as to who or what they were up against, the siege was to last another three days, resulting in the deaths of 61 civilians, six security personnel and five attackers. A further 175 people were injured, many of them seriously. Most of the victims were from Kenya's business and political elite, as well as expatriates and members of the diplomatic community. In the aftermath of the attack, an investigation was carried out by British police officers who were sent to help the Kenyan counter- terrorism unit. A tightening of the country's security led to ten arrests of people suspected of aiding and abetting the attackers. The investigation also revealed that the insurgents were from a number of countries. Terrorist tactics are continuing to evolve. They seek sophisticated means of attack that include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons and cyber attacks. Threats may come from abroad or may be home-grown. In response countries are tightening security in their cargo and passenger transportation systems, while concentrating on their borders and ports of entry. Law enforcement agencies are also using the full scope of their authority to collect intelligence regarding terrorist plans and methods. In another approach, groups are also examining why people turn to terrorism to try and achieve their aims. Unsurprisingly they are finding that many terrorists act from political, ideological or religious convictions. However, it is important that none of these findings are used as a pretext for dis- crimination against any seg- ment of society, as this could lead to the alienation of many of those who are both willing and able to lend assistance to national security. While security services throughout the world will take many lessons from the events at Westgate, possibly the most important is that it showed what a well organ- ised, well trained group can do when they take terror to a whole new level. A Kenya General Service Unit policeman stands guard in the area around Westgate shopping mall. People scramble for safety as armed police hunt the gunmen who went on a shooting spree at the busy shopping centre. Kenyan soldiers take cover after gunfire erupts near the mall. (Photo: Carl De Souza/AFP/ Getty Images) Dawn breaks over the still smouldering Westgate Mall. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

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