Source: Kenya mall attack suspect eyed after ammunition fell out of his pocket

Nima Elbagir and Greg Botelho, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 9:27 PM EDT, Thu September 26, 2013
Relatives of Johnny Mutinda Musango, 48, weep after identifying his body at the city morgue in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, September 24. Musango was one of the victims of the Westgate Mall hostage siege. Kenyan security forces were still combing the mall on the fourth day of the siege by al Qaeda-linked terrorists.
Kenya mall attack —
Relatives of Johnny Mutinda Musango, 48, weep after identifying his body at the city morgue in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, September 24. Musango was one of the victims of the Westgate Mall hostage siege. Kenyan security forces were still combing the mall on the fourth day of the siege by al Qaeda-linked terrorists.
Jerome Delay/AP
Ann Gakii reacts at the Nairobi City Mortuary after identifying the body of her father, who was killed in the mall attack on Saturday.
Kenya mall attack —
Ann Gakii reacts at the Nairobi City Mortuary after identifying the body of her father, who was killed in the mall attack on Saturday.
Khalil Senosi/ap
A Kenyan soldier runs through a corridor on an upper floor at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 24, shortly before an explosion was heard. Sounds of heavy gunfire erupted from the mall Tuesday, even as authorities said they had the building under their control. But four days after Al-Shabaab terrorists stormed the swanky mall, several gunmen -- including snipers -- were still inside, two senior officials said.
Kenya mall attack —
A Kenyan soldier runs through a corridor on an upper floor at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 24, shortly before an explosion was heard. Sounds of heavy gunfire erupted from the mall Tuesday, even as authorities said they had the building under their control. But four days after Al-Shabaab terrorists stormed the swanky mall, several gunmen -- including snipers -- were still inside, two senior officials said.
Ben Curtis/ap
Kenyan Defense Forces walk near the mall on Monday, September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Kenyan Defense Forces walk near the mall on Monday, September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
Kenyan Defense Forces leave the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Kenyan Defense Forces leave the mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
Stephen, center, is comforted by relatives as he waits for the post mortem exam of his father, who was killed in Saturday's attack at the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Stephen, center, is comforted by relatives as he waits for the post mortem exam of his father, who was killed in Saturday's attack at the mall.
Jerome Delay/ap
A Kenyan police officer guards the entrance of a building near the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
A Kenyan police officer guards the entrance of a building near the mall on September 23.
TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images
A Kenyan security officer takes cover as gunfire and explosions are heard from the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
A Kenyan security officer takes cover as gunfire and explosions are heard from the mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/ap
Heavy smoke rises from the Westgate Shopping Mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Heavy smoke rises from the Westgate Shopping Mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
Medics take cover behind a tree as gunfire and explosions are heard from the Westgate Mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Medics take cover behind a tree as gunfire and explosions are heard from the Westgate Mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
A Kenyan police security officer runs for cover as heavy smoke rises from the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
A Kenyan police security officer runs for cover as heavy smoke rises from the mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
A paramedic runs for cover outside the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
A paramedic runs for cover outside the mall on September 23.
Sayyid Azim/AP
People run for cover outside the mall after heavy shooting started on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
People run for cover outside the mall after heavy shooting started on September 23.
Sayyid Azim/AP
Kenyan security forces crouch behind a wall outside the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Kenyan security forces crouch behind a wall outside the mall on September 23.
Jerome Delay/AP
Soldiers take cover after gunfire near the mall on September 23.
Kenya mall attack —
Soldiers take cover after gunfire near the mall on September 23.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
Kenyan paramilitary police officers patrol the area near the mall on Sunday, September 22.
Kenya mall attack —
Kenyan paramilitary police officers patrol the area near the mall on Sunday, September 22.
DAI KUROKAWA/EPA/LANDOV
Soldiers from the Kenya Defense Forces arrive outside the Westgate Mall on September 22.
Kenya mall attack —
Soldiers from the Kenya Defense Forces arrive outside the Westgate Mall on September 22.
Ben Curtis/aP
A woman shields a baby as a soldier stands guard inside the Westgate Mall on Saturday, September 21.
Kenya mall attack —
A woman shields a baby as a soldier stands guard inside the Westgate Mall on Saturday, September 21.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
A rescue worker helps a child outside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A rescue worker helps a child outside the mall.
Khalil Senosi/AP
People who had been hiding inside the mall during the gunfire flee the scene.
Kenya mall attack —
People who had been hiding inside the mall during the gunfire flee the scene.
Jonathan Kalan/AP
An armed official takes a shooting position inside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
An armed official takes a shooting position inside the mall.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
An armed official crouches on September 21.
Kenya mall attack —
An armed official crouches on September 21.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
Warning: Graphic images (multiple)
Kenya mall attack —
Bodies lie on the ground inside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Bodies lie on the ground inside the mall.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
Men help a wounded woman outside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Men help a wounded woman outside the mall.
Khalil Senosi/AP
Officials carry an injured man in the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Officials carry an injured man in the mall.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
Soldiers move up stairs inside the Westgate Mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Soldiers move up stairs inside the Westgate Mall.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/LANDOV
Armed police leave after entering the mall. At least one suspect has been killed, a government official said. Police have said another suspected gunman has been detained at a Nairobi hospital.
Kenya mall attack —
Armed police leave after entering the mall. At least one suspect has been killed, a government official said. Police have said another suspected gunman has been detained at a Nairobi hospital.
Jonathan Kalan
Armed police take cover behind escalators as smoke fills the air. Witnesses say tear gas was thrown in the corridors.
Kenya mall attack —
Armed police take cover behind escalators as smoke fills the air. Witnesses say tear gas was thrown in the corridors.
Jonathan Kalan/ap
A woman who had been hiding during the attack runs for cover after armed police enter the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A woman who had been hiding during the attack runs for cover after armed police enter the mall.
Jonathan Kalan/ap
A body is seen on the floor inside the smoke-filled four-story mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A body is seen on the floor inside the smoke-filled four-story mall.
Jonathan Kalan/ap
An injured person is helped on arrival at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after the attack at the upscale mall.
Kenya mall attack —
An injured person is helped on arrival at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after the attack at the upscale mall.
Jason Straziuso/ap
A soldier directs people up a stairway inside the Westgate on September 21.
Kenya mall attack —
A soldier directs people up a stairway inside the Westgate on September 21.
KABIR DHANJI/EPA/Landov
An injured man is wheeled into the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
Kenya mall attack —
An injured man is wheeled into the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
Hoss Njuguna/AFP/Getty Images
People run from the Westgate Mall.
Kenya mall attack —
People run from the Westgate Mall.
Jason Straziuso/ap
A Kenyan woman is helped to safety after the masked gunmen stormed the upscale mall and sprayed gunfire on shoppers and staff.
Kenya mall attack —
A Kenyan woman is helped to safety after the masked gunmen stormed the upscale mall and sprayed gunfire on shoppers and staff.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
Crowds gather outside the upscale shopping mall. The interior ministry urges Kenyans to keep off the roads near the mall so police can ensure everyone inside has been evacuated to safety.
Kenya mall attack —
Crowds gather outside the upscale shopping mall. The interior ministry urges Kenyans to keep off the roads near the mall so police can ensure everyone inside has been evacuated to safety.
Jason Straziuso/ap
A policeman carries a baby to safety. Authorities said multiple shooters were at the scene.
Kenya mall attack —
A policeman carries a baby to safety. Authorities said multiple shooters were at the scene.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
Bodies lie outside the shopping mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Bodies lie outside the shopping mall.
Jason Straziuso/ap
A security officer helps a wounded woman outside.
Kenya mall attack —
A security officer helps a wounded woman outside.
Jason Straziuso/ap
Elaine Dang of San Diego is helped to safety after the attack. The military asked local media not to televise anything live because the gunmen are watching the screens in the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Elaine Dang of San Diego is helped to safety after the attack. The military asked local media not to televise anything live because the gunmen are watching the screens in the mall.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
Paramedics treat an injured man outside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
Paramedics treat an injured man outside the mall.
Jason Straziuso/ap
Medical personnel carry a body away.
Kenya mall attack —
Medical personnel carry a body away.
Sayyid Azim/ap
A body lies outside the mall. Gunmen shot people outside the mall as they entered it
Kenya mall attack —
A body lies outside the mall. Gunmen shot people outside the mall as they entered it
Sayyid Azim/ap
A woman is pulled by a shopping cart to an ambulance.
Kenya mall attack —
A woman is pulled by a shopping cart to an ambulance.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
A wounded man is escorted outside the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A wounded man is escorted outside the mall.
Sayyid Azim/ap
A police officer carries a baby as people keep low and run to safety. Crowds dashed down the streets as soldiers in military fatigues, guns cocked, crawled under cars to get closer to the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A police officer carries a baby as people keep low and run to safety. Crowds dashed down the streets as soldiers in military fatigues, guns cocked, crawled under cars to get closer to the mall.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
People run away from the scene.
Kenya mall attack —
People run away from the scene.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images
Armed Kenyan forces take position to secure the area around the shopping mall as ambulances move in to carry the injured.
Kenya mall attack —
Armed Kenyan forces take position to secure the area around the shopping mall as ambulances move in to carry the injured.
DANIEL IRUNGU/EPA/LANDOV
A woman reacts after she is rescued from the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A woman reacts after she is rescued from the mall.
Zhang Chen/XINHUA /LANDOv
A couple flee the area. As night fell, authorities said they had cornered the gunmen in the mall.
Kenya mall attack —
A couple flee the area. As night fell, authorities said they had cornered the gunmen in the mall.
Jennifer Huxta/Barcroft Media /Landov
Photos: Kenya mall attack

Story highlights

NEW: There's growing concern that some attackers escaped, U.S. officials say

The man was injured, being evacuated from Westgate Mall when authorities were tipped off

The Kenyan national is being held in a hospital on a military airbase, a Kenyan source says

At least 67 are confirmed dead in the Nairobi mall attack; dozens more still unaccounted for

Nairobi, Kenya CNN  — 

A man who cast himself as a victim of the recent attack on a Nairobi mall gave himself away as a possible suspect when a machine-gun magazine fell out of his pocket as he was being evacuated, a Kenyan counterterrorism source said Thursday.

This Kenyan national, who was injured in the ordeal, is currently being held in a hospital at a military airbase, according to the source.

It was not immediately clear if this man is one of the at least 10 individuals who Kenyan officials have said are in custody on suspicion of taking part in the Westgate Mall attack.

A woman shouts during a special prayer for the victims of the Westgate Shopping Mall shooting at the Legio Maria African Mission church in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, September 29.
A woman shouts during a special prayer for the victims of the Westgate Shopping Mall shooting at the Legio Maria African Mission church in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, September 29.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
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Related gallery Photos: Kenya mourns mall shooting victims

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Kenyan Presidential Press Service/Getty Images
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Related gallery Photos: Kenyan mall's destroyed parking deck

Was ‘White Widow’ involved in mall shooting?

There is increasing concern that some perpetrators escaped the mall along with fleeing civilians, and thus remain at large, U.S. law enforcement officials say. U.S. forensic investigators were granted access to the ravaged mall on Thursday.

The onslaught began when militants stormed the upscale Nairobi shopping mall on Saturday, forcing shoppers and diners to run for their lives or scramble for safe hiding spots. It ended on Tuesday, by which time President Uhuru Kenyatta said authorities had overrun the gunmen and taken over the mall.

Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based terrorist group with links to al Qaeda, took credit for the carnage.

In addition to five terrorists, at least 67 people are confirmed dead in the attack. Officials fear that number could rise – as many as 63 people are still unaccounted for – as they sift through the rubble left from the collapse of three floors of the expansive facility.

Kenya mall shooting: Dozens of families unsure if loved ones are dead or alive

CNN’s Nima Elbagir reported from Nairobi; CNN’s Greg Botelho reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN’s Evan Perez contributed to this report.