An alleged commander in the Somali Shabab rebel group on Monday denied Press reports that Westerners or women were involved in the hostage standoff at a Nairobi mall that has killed at least 69 people.
The man, who claimed he had been in contact with the Islamist attackers inside the Westgate shopping centre, also said the militants would not negotiate an end to the siege.
The man, who called himself Abu Omar, was speaking to BBC radio after several British newspapers reported that Samantha lewthwaite, widow of one of the suicide bombers in the 2005 attacks on london transport network, could have masterminded the attack.
“There are some rumours spreading around that say that there have been American, British and other attackers of different nationalities involved,” Abu Omar said.