NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The terrorist group behind the takeover of a Nairobi mall claimed Wednesday that the Kenyan government assault team carried out ‘‘a demolition’’ of the building, burying 137 hostages in rubble. A government spokesman denied the claim and said Kenyan forces were clearing all rooms, firing as they moved and encountering no one.
In a series of tweets from a Twitter account believed to be genuine, al-Shabab also said that ‘‘having failed to defeat the mujahideen inside the mall, the Kenyan govt disseminated chemical gases to end the siege.’’
Kenyan government spokesman Manoah Esipisu told The Associated Press that no chemical weapons were used — including tear gas — and that the collapse of floors in the mall was caused by a fire set by the terrorists and that the official civilian death toll remains 61.
‘‘Al-Shabab is known for wild allegations and there is absolutely no truth to what they’re saying,’’ he said. But officials said the death count will likely rise. Estimates varied between only a few bodies to dozens of bodies possibly still inside the mall.
Photos and video of the damage showed the mall’s top level parking lot collapsed in the middle of the building. That brought the second level down onto the ground floor on top of at least eight civilians and one or more attackers, said Esipisu.
The United States Ambassador to Kenya says U.S. experts are helping Kenyan forces search for bodies and evidence in the collapsed mall that Islamic terrorists held for four days.
Robert F. Godec said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. is providing technical support and equipment to Kenyan security forces and medical responders.
Godec said, at the request of the Kenyan government, the U.S. is assisting the investigation to bring the attack’s organizers and perpetrators to justice.
Kenyan forensic experts — aided by American FBI agents and Israeli specialists — are working to reconstruct what happened in the attack, said Esipisu, speaking at the mall scene Wednesday. British forensic experts are also expected.
Read more: boston.com
