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AFP - Getty Images
Members of the public assist firefighters at the scene of a blast in central Nairobi, Kenya on May 28, 2012.
Updated at 10.05 a.m. ET -- Reuters reports — A blast struck a shopping complex in Nairobi's business district during Monday's lunch hour, wounding more than two dozen people, but there was confusion over whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or electrical fault.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere told reporters it was too early to determine the cause of the blast. He said blackened wires inside the trading center indicated a possible electrical fault and ruled out a grenade attack.
Two shopkeepers, however, told Reuters independently that they saw a man drop a bag inside the trading center moments before the blast.
"He came into the shop twice, looking at T-shirts. He said he didn't have money so he left. Then he came back," said Irene Wachira. "(He was) three shops away from where I was. He left a bag and a few moments later we had an explosion. The roof caved in and debris started falling on us," Wachira said.
AFP - Getty Images
An injured woman is carried to an ambulance.
Johnson Mugo / Reuters
Civilians attempt to extinguish a fire in a clothing shop after the explosion. Dense black smoke billowed from the badly damaged building and sirens blared as emergency service crews rushed to Moi Avenue, a major road running through the city center.
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Let us sincerely hope this was caused by some fault in the electrical or gas supply and not by terrorists. Kenya is still one of the only stable countries in that area, and it is good to see people actually fighting the fire and not standing around waving their fists in the air. A speedy recovery to those who were injured and hoping they can get the shopping area back to normal soon.
Since when has Kenya been stable? Rigged elections, ethnic violence and relies on food donated by other countries because it's people are always starving. Yep, another success story in Africa
When I read the headline "Blast rocks shopping center in Nairobi" I was think I have to get this band's stuff on my IP if they rock that hard, but then bummer. Sorry Nairobi dudes.
It is always the innocent that suffer.
In the second picture that man has a handful of the woman's breast. How is he helping? Helping himself.
Shame on you. No wonder you are so unhappy.
I really hope that its not some global insurgency plot. I mean, whats the point of bombing Kenyans?
I wish my brothers in kenya a quick recovery, and be strong.
I wish my brothers in kenya a quick recovery,and be strong.
Hope it is not terrorism, kenya being a peaceful place is not immune to Al Qaeda, remember the embassy bombing 1998 where over 200 were killed and thousands injured. hope they find and punish those involved. God bless.
I HOPE THAT MY KENYAN BROTHERS WILL ONE DAY REALIZE THAT THEIR CORRUPT LEADERS ARE THE CAUSE OF ALL THEIR SUFFERINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE POCKETS OF WESTERN IMPERIALISTS TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK IN THE HORN OF AFRICA. If only Kenyans would take care of their own brothers who live in one of the biggest slums in the world instead of empire building on behalf of their former masters the Brits and the new masters the Americans. I feel sorry for the many innocent civilians being killed not only in Kenya but all over the world by the greedy vultures of Western Governments.
Cut the B S, every country in Africa treats their citizens like filth.. The unfortunates were far better off with the Whites in control.... Forgive me for using statistics...
OH, to enlighten many, Africa is a continent not a country
There were some excellent comments following the initial story. Thanks to those that made them.
I hope the president was able to get through to his half brother.
He's probably worried sick about the guy.