By Meletus EZE
A large fire and sustained gunfire sent workers fleeing for their lives at an upscale hotel and office complex in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday, Reuters witnesses said.
Plumes of white smoke could be seen billowing from the scene into the air amid sustained gunfire as several residents scamper for safety.
The witness said that one man came out covered in blood as nearby university students were evacuated.
“I just started hearing gunshots and then started seeing people running away raising their hands up and some were entering the bank to hide for their lives,’’ a woman, working in a neighbouring building, said.
“I also heard two explosions.’’
Nairobi Police Commander, Philip Ndolo, said they had cordoned off the area around Riverside Drive, where the dusitD2 hotel is located, due to a suspected robbery.
“However, police are not ruling out a militant attack.
“We have to go for the highest incident that could take place.
“The highest incident we have is a terror attack,’’ Police Spokesman, Charles Owino, told Citizen Television.
“We are under attack,’’ another person in an office inside the complex told Reuters, then hung up.
Smoke could be seen rising from the area and a Reuter’s reporter saw several vehicles on fire near the entrance to the complex.
