Thick smoke rises from the Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi following a string of explosions during the third day of a stand-off between Kenyan security forces and gunmen inside the building in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 23, 2013. Kenyan security forces on Monday stepped up their onslaught against Al-Qaida allied Al-Shabaab gunmen to end a siege on the mall and free hostages. (Xinhua/Zhang Chen)

Related:

Kenya says 62 dead, 2 terrorists killed, hostages rescued in mall crisis

NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan authorities on Monday put the latest toll in the mall crisis at 62, while declaring two terrorists were killed and some hostages were rescued in the latest round of fighting.

The Kenyan Interior Ministry said 62 people have been confirmed dead since Al-Qaida linked Al-Shabaab militants stormed into Nairobi's upscale Westgate shopping mall on Saturday.  Full story

Thick smoke, fire, loud explosions feature day 3 of Kenya mall siege

NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thick smoke was witnessed billowing on Monday amid loud explosions at a popular shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on the third day of the tense standoff between security forces and Al-Shabaab militants.

Witnesses reported fire ensuing widespread thick, black smoke billowing at Nairobi's once upscale Westgate shopping mall. Explosions were heard from inside the mall, where there were still hostages being held by the militants.  Full story