CCTV footage from the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya appears to show soldiers looting shops and emptying cash registers into plastic bags. The reports contradict official narratives about the military operation to secure the mall from terrorists.
6 chapters across the catalog
CCTV footage from the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya appears to show soldiers looting shops and emptying cash registers into plastic bags. The reports contradict official narratives about the military operation to secure the mall from terrorists.
Westgate Mall Attack, Nairobi Service Tunnels and Al-Shabaab
Reports from Nairobi suggest that attackers at the Westgate Mall escaped through unknown service tunnels before the Kenyan army arrived. The hosts discuss the use of timed explosives to create the illusion of a continued presence, leading the military to cause significant damage to the building. Discrepancies in media photos, including a Daily Mail image allegedly from a 1997 U.S. bank heist, are cited as evidence of poor reporting.
Westgate Mall Attack and Al-Qaeda Twitter Presence
Senator Dianne Feinstein uses the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, to justify the necessity of NSA surveillance programs. The hosts critique the intelligence community's failure to prevent the attack despite reported warnings. They also highlight the emergence of an official Al-Qaeda Twitter account, Shomokalislam, mocking its low follower count and public messaging.
Westgate Mall Attack and Al-Shabaab Origins
The Westgate mall attack in Nairobi is analyzed as a potential "strategy of tension" to justify increased security and surveillance. Jeremy Scahill's reporting is cited, explaining how the CIA's funding of Somali warlords in the early 2000s inadvertently fueled the rise of Al-Shabaab. The segment also discusses the "White Widow" and the use of Twitter as a primary source for terrorist claims.
Nairobi Westgate Mall Massacre and Al-Shabaab Claims
A major terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, resulted in dozens of deaths and over 150 injuries. The Somali militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the siege via Twitter, citing Kenya's military involvement in Somalia as the motive. Local producers report that the Kenyan government may be underreporting casualties while hostages remain in the Israeli-owned facility.
Tyler Hicks and New York Times Photography in Nairobi
New York Times photojournalist Tyler Hicks happened to be near the Westgate Mall when the shooting began and entered the building to document the carnage. His graphic, award-winning photographs appeared on the front page of the New York Times and across major networks. The hosts find the timing of his presence and his ability to bypass security during an active siege peculiar.