British Hero of the Mall Massacre:
How ex-Royal Marine with a Handgun saved 100 Lives as Terrorists ran Amok with AK47s
The former soldier was having coffee at the Westgate mall when it was attacked by Islamists on Saturday.
Our saviour: The soldier helps two women to safety. His identity has been protected for security reasons
- Was having coffee at Westgate mall when it was attacked on Saturday
- He returned to building a dozen times despite intense gunfire
- Man, who can't be named for security reasons, was pictured with victims
- Gunfire heard early today despite Kenyan assurances mall had been secured
- 'At least 10 hostages still being held by a band of Al Shabaab militants'
- Up to three American teenagers and one British person among terrorists
A former marine emerged as a hero of the Nairobi siege yesterday after he was credited with saving up to 100 lives.
The ex soldier was having coffee at the Westgate mall when it was attacked by Islamists on Saturday.
With a gun tucked into his waistband, he was pictured helping two women from the complex.
His story emerged as sporadic gunfire continued to ring out from inside the mall early today as Kenyan security forces battled Al Qaeda-linked terrorists into a fourth day.
Despite Kenyan police assurances that they had taken control of the building, a security expert with contacts inside the mall said at least 10 hostages were still being held by a band of attackers, possibly as many as 13.
The former soldier is said to have returned to the building on a dozen occasions, despite intense gunfire.
A friend in Nairobi said: ‘What he did was so heroic. He was having coffee with friends when it happened.
‘He went back in 12 times and saved 100 people. Imagine going back in when you knew what was going on inside.’
Sources said the soldier was in the Royal Marines and now lives in Kenyan. He cannot be named for security reasons.
The British military regularly train and operate out of Kenya, and have been involved in tracking UK citizens involved with hardline Islamists in Somalia and Yemen.
Former members work with both the UK and Kenyan governments and security firms across East Africa.
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