U.S. drone attacks and kills suspect responsible for Westgate attack

A drone believed to belong to the U.S. reportedly killed a member of the al-Shabab who allegedly helped mastermind the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, officials said.

According to an article by SunHerald, an online publication, the man killed by the drone attack is called Adan Garar, and he is suspected of planning more than just the Westgate attack.

“Adan Garar and two others are suspected to have been killed after their car was targeted near the town of Bardhere, the Kenyan and U.S. officials said. The senior Kenyan official, who insisted on anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to give the information to the media, says Garar is also suspected of planning failed attacks on Kenya’s coast and in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, last year. The U.S official also insisted on anonymity.” The article read.

“Anti-terror police foiled a planned attack in the coastal city of Mombasa after they intercepted a car packed with explosives in March 2014, according to Kenyan authorities. According to police, al-Shabab militants had planned simultaneous attacks on the international airport in Mombasa, the ferry crossing and a supermarket. The car laden with explosives was to be detonated on a ferry.” It added

“Al-Shabab, an Islamic extremist group, has vowed to inflict violent attacks on Kenya and Uganda because the two countries have contributed troops to the African Union force supporting the government in Somalia.” It continued.

The westgate attack occurred on 21 September 2013, whereby, unidentified gunmen attacked the up-market shopping mall in Nairobi’s Ngong Road area.

The attack lasted until 24 September and resulted in at least 67 deaths, including four attackers. Over 175 people were reportedly wounded in the mass shooting, with all of the gunmen reported killed.

The Islamist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident, which it explained as retribution for the Kenyan military’s deployment in Somalia.