Source: www.persecution.org
Date: October 8, 2020
Kenya (International Christian Concern) – It has been nearly seven years after the major terror attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. This attack is one of the largest terror attacks that have taken place in recent Kenyan history. More than 60 people were killed during the 48 hour long siege at the mall. According to some of those who survived the attack, al-Shabaab terrorists separated Muslim shoppers from non-Muslim shoppers. They forced people to identify themselves as Muslims by reciting the Islamic Statement of Faith, the shahada, or by naming Muhammad’s mother. When they found non-Muslims, they killed them.
Four of the attackers were killed during the fighting, but it is believed that as many as fifteen of them escaped. Several of those believed to have been involved in the attack, Mohamed Ahmed and Hussein Hassan Mustafa, were found guily of the offences of conspiracy to commit a terrorism act and being in possession of material promoting terrorism activity. They will be sentenced for their crimes on October 22. A third man was found not guilty due to a lack of evidence.
Al-Shabaab is an Islamic Extremist organization that has been designated terrorists by many countries. They are based in Somalia and have been fighting to create a Caliphate in the Horn of Africa for many years. Despite an international coalition of forces fighting to secure Somalia against this terror group, Al-Shabaab continues to control many areas and conducts many attacks each year on the capital, Mogadishu. They also continue to attack Kenyan civilians in Kenya on a regular basis. These typically look like raids on villages and towns, or attacks on travelers along roadways.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for peace for those still traumatized by this incident. Pray for any remaining suspects to be held accountable. Pray for the defeat of al-Shabaab.