A British man and an American man are among at least 15 people killed after four gunmen sprayed guests with bullets and a suicide bomber blew himself up in a terror attack on a luxury hotel in Kenya.
The four attackers, one wearing a green belt laden with grenades, were seen on CCTV blasting their way into the hotel and office complex in Nairobi after denoting car bombs outside a nearby bank.
The suicide bomber then blew himself up in the lobby before the other three began hurling grenades and shooting people as they fled or hid under tables.
Charles Njenga, a worker at the complex, said after fleeing the scene: 'What I have seen is terrible. I have seen a human as I ran out and there is what looks like minced meat all over.'
Special forces were sent in to flush the gunmen out, and officials said the scene was secure at around 11pm local time (8pm GMT). However, further gunfire was heard at around 2am when it emerged some of the injured were still trapped. The fate of the three remaining terrorists is unclear.
The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab claimed that it was behind the attack at the 14 Riverside Drive complex - which includes a large hotel known as DusitD2, banks and offices. They claimed to have killed 47 people but gave no evidence.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'The situation is ongoing. We are in contact with the Kenyan authorities who are coordinating a response and stand ready to assist as required.'
Motionless bodies of victims around a table at a hotel and office complex in Nairobi that was targeted in a terror attack today in which at least 15 people were killed
A CCTV grab showing one of four suspected al Shabaab attackers who opened fire in the hotel as a suicide bomber detonated
Gunmen blasted their way into the venue - detonating car bombs, hurling grenades and opening fire on civilians - sending workers fleeing for their lives as others cowered under their desks. Pictured: Bullet holes in the windows
The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab claimed that it was behind the attack at the complex - which includes a large hotel known as DusitD2, banks and offices. Pictured: People run for cover
CCTV showing two of the alleged attackers walking past a barrier towards the hotel wearing dark paramilitary-style gear. Al Shabaab has already claimed responsibility for the carnage
A security guard helps two women to flee from the Nairobi hotel (left) while others escape through a window and onto a ladder (right)
Civilians flee as gunfire erupts at the hotel complex, while members of the security forces (right) fire back at the attackers
A woman is carried out of the hotel and office complex on a stretcher in the Kenyan capital after al Shabaab Islamists set off explosions and hurled grenades
Survivors duck down to avoid being shot and cling to the person in front as they are led out of the complex in single file
Security forces armed with assault rifles stand guard and help evacuate people at the scene in Nairobi
Survivors run for their lives in the street as a gunfight ensued between al Shabaab terrorists and Kenyan security guards
Women flee with a look of panic on their faces as gunshots can be heard whizzing by in the hotels behind them
An armed soldier takes cover next to a bullet hole-riddled glass during ongoing gunfire and explosions in Nairobi
The attack began at around 3pm local time, when the four gunmen threw bombs at cars parked outside the hotel before walking into the lobby, where the suicide bomber blew himself up.
Authorities sent special forces into the hotel to flush out the gunmen believed holed up inside. About eight hours after the siege began, Interior Minister Fred Matian'i said that all of the buildings affected by the attack had been secured and that security forces were mopping up.
'I would like to reiterate that the situation is under control and the country is safe,' he said.
However, more gunfire was heard about an hour later, Kenyan broadcaster NTV reported. Reports at around 2.00am local time (11pm GMT) also said people remained trapped.
One woman, who gave her name only as Nelly, said: 'I have spoken to my brother just now and we are exchanging text messages.
'He is in there and he has told me they are hiding with over 10 other people. Why is the government saying they have rescued them?'
Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said: 'We are behind the attack in Nairobi. The operation is going on. We shall give details later.'
Two Kenyans in their early 30s working with governance consultants Adam Smith International were among the dead, a family member said. Both had young families, she said.
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GARISSA UNIVERSITY, APRIL 2015
The al Shabaab claimed responsibility for an attack on Garissa University that killed 147 people, mostly students. The attack occurred near the Somalia border that had seen multiple assaults on buses and schools. The extremists separated Christians from Muslims and killed the Christians.
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Al-Qaeda bombed the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, and the embassy in neighboring Tanzania, killing more than 250 people. The explosions were the first major al-Qaeda attack on U.S. targets. Nearly 5,000 people were injured.
NORFOLK HOTEL, DECEMBER 1980
The hotel was bombed on New Year's Eve and killed at least 15. Suspicion fell on Palestinian militant groups that targeted Kenya for supporting Israel.
A Spanish national was among the injured, a Spanish diplomat said.
The US Embassy had offered assistance, a State Department official said, adding all American diplomats were safe.
A woman shot in the leg was carried out of the complex, and several men emerged covered in blood. Some office workers climbed out of windows. Many said they had to leave colleagues behind, still huddled under their desks.
'There's a grenade in the bathroom,' one officer yelled as police rushed out from one building.
Geoffrey Otieno, who works at a beauty salon in the complex, said he heard a loud bang from something thrown inside the building, then saw shattered glass.
'We hid until we were rescued,' he said.
John Maingi said there had been 'a flash of lights and a loud bang' at the Secret Garden restaurant where he works.
'When I peeped outside I saw a human leg which has been cut off. We hid in the room and then some police officers rescued us,' he said.
Survivors reported hearing a shattering blast and saw people mowed down by gunmen as they sat in a cafe. Victims were left lying on tables, bleeding.
'We were changing our shifts, and that is when I heard a loud blast and people were screaming,' said Enoch Kibet, who works as a cleaner at the cafe and managed to crawl out a basement gate. 'I couldn't believe I was alive. The blast was so loud and shook the whole complex.'
Meanwhile, Simon Crump, an Australian who works for an international firm in the complex, barricaded himself inside a spare room with two other people. They waited there for about 2-1/2 hours for help to arrive, their minds racing.
'You're hiding under a desk trying to figure out what's going on, and you just don't know, as there's so much misinformation,' he said.
When soldiers finally reached the group, they instructed them to put their phones away and put their hands in the air as
