Foreign experts probe Kenya mall attack

NAIROBI - Top forensic experts from Britain, US and Israel joined their Kenyan counterparts on Wednesday in carrying out analysis at the Westgate shopping mall which was stormed by terrorists last Saturday, killing over 60 people.

Cabinet Secretary Francis Kimemia however said the priority will focus on debris clearance in order to facilitate immediate recovery of bodies trapped in the ramble at the complex after three floors collapsed during security operation.

"Leading forensic experts from other countries allowed to join including Isreal, USA and UK but Kenya leads," Kimemia said on Wednesday, adding that President Uhuru Kenyatta has summoned a special cabinet meeting and National Security and Advisory Council to take stock of lessons learnt and formulate way forward.

He said the two meetings will take critical analysis of the situation and devise appropriate stringent national measures following the shopping mall attack that has shocked the international community.

Kimemia said the Special National Security and Advisory Council will push for a revitalized national and regional counter terrorism strategy and disaster management.

The East African country has recently admitted that the threat of terror attacks remains real, but security personnel are on high alert. The al-Shabaab militia group, which is aligned to al-Qaida network, said before that it would attack Kenya.

They claimed responsibility for the Saturday attacks which they said was in retaliation for the cross border incursion in southern Somalia in 2011.

Since the east African nation sent troops across the border into Somalia two years ago, north-eastern Kenya, Nairobi and Mombasa have been hit by a series of blasts, many targeting local security forces.

The government official's remarks come after Kenyatta promised that the terrorists, their accomplices and patrons will meet justice for destruction, deaths, pain and loss Kenyans have suffered.