Was Samantha Lewthwaite Responsible For The Kenyan Mall Attack?

The terrorist attack in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, which resulted in the death of at least 62 people may have been orchestrated by Samantha Lewthwaite, also known as the “White Widow.”

Lewthwaite, who is British by birth, decided to convert to an extreme form of Islam when she met her husband. He was one of the terrorists killed in the 7/7 bus bombings in London, hence her nickname.

The speculation that the “white widow” was instrumental in, and may have masterminded the Kenyan mall attacks, started when a white woman was found among the dead terrorists at the mall.

Kenya’s special forces were engaged in a vicious gun battle with the terrorists since Saturday. At least three sources, one an intelligence officer and two soldiers said that a white woman was found fitting the description of Samantha Lewthwaite.

The special forces tried to access the roof of the mall. When they succeeded – and the terrorists sensed they were closing in – they blew themselves up.

The Interior Minister of Kenya, Joseph Ole Lenku, said that the hostages were now free and at least three of the terrorists killed: “We think the operation will come to an end soon. We are in control of all the floors, the terrorists are running and hiding in some stores… there is no room for escape.”

The terror attack on innocent people at the shopping mall was marked by the fact that one of the terrorists offered a live commentary of sorts – via Twitter – on the unfolding events. The terrorists were clearly racist in their beliefs, as they openly said they only wanted to kill Kenyans and Americans.

The terrorists even went to the extraordinary measure of ascertaining which of the hostages were Muslim and which were not. They did this by asking people the name of the Prophet Mohammed’s mother. Those who answered correctly were free to go, while those who didn’t were killed.

The Red Cross has said that at least 62 people were killed, 63 are still missing and that close to 200 people were injured. It is not yet confirmed whether Samantha Lewthwaite, the “white widow,” was responsible for orchestrating the Kenyan mall attack.