At least five killed in attack on Hotel in Nairobi

one of the Al-Shaabab militia, claimed the attack in Nairobi are at least five people were killed. Kenya's police chief spoke of a coordinated attack on the hotel complex.

By Linda Staude, ARD-Studio, Nairobi

"this afternoon at about three o'clock local time, a group of unidentified attackers attacked the Dusit Hotel and office complex. We suspect that it is a terrorist attack," said Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinnet about three hours after the attack on the upscale Dusit-Hotel in Nairobi - cautious and vague. Six armed assailants had detonated the way through the shot and explosives in the building lock-free complex.

The explosions set several cars on fire.

"We just came from a Meeting and were in the stairwell, as we have seen an Explosion in the Restaurant in the courtyard, tells an eye-witness, Geoffrey. "We thought it was a gas cylinder. But then we heard shots. We hid in our offices. And thank God we're out now."

Geoffrey was evacuated by the security forces from the office building, just like its colleagues as well as guests and staff of the hotel who had taken refuge in the basement. "We have seen two of the wounded, when we came out of the gate. One had a gunshot wound in the back, another in the belly. Motorcycle taxis have brought you to the hospital," says Dominic, another eye-witness.

most of The people could be evacuated from the building complex.

The Somali terror group Al Shabaab claimed the attack. A spokesman said the "Operation" is continuing. The chief of police suspects: "we are aware that some of the armed Criminals could still keep in the building hiding. And our special forces are trying at the Moment, you drive." If there are still guests staying in the Hotel, is also unclear.

Nairobi was in the past the target of Al-Shabaab terrorists. In 2013, four armed assailants had attacked the well-known Westgate Mall. At the time, a four-day siege of the building, in which nearly 70 people died. This error will repeat to the police. "We expect to bring this Situation back to normality as fast as possible," assured Boinnet.