Westgate siege – British victim No.6 comfirmed

A sixth Briton was confirmed dead yesterday following the Kenyan shopping mall siege.

At least 72 people have died as a result of the four-day attack by militants from extremist group al-Shabbab at Nairobi’s Westgate centre. Forensic experts continue to comb the wrecked shopping complex, looking for bodies and clues.

The confirmed death toll last night stood at 61 civilians, six security officers and five militants. Kenya’s Red Cross also said 61 people were still missing.

Following the end of the siege on Tuesday, numerous stories have emerged showing the bravery of people caught up in the attack. They include that of a British marketing executive who offered himself as a hostage to save the lives of 33 children. Mitul Shah, 38, negotiated with the gunmen to secure the freedom of several children before he was shot and killed.

His attempts to placate them also gave other children time to escape.

Colleagues of Mitul, who worked for cooking oil firm Bidco Oil, are helping to care for his widow, Rupal, and two-year-old daughter, Sarai. They described his actions as “heroic and brave”.

Safari boss Simon Belcher, originally from Perth, was also hailed a hero for protecting a young boy during the attack. He was shopping with wife, Amanda, when the al-Shabab attack began.

It is understood father-of-two Simon hid under a car with Amanda, a young Kenyan boy and his nanny.

But the brave safari tour operator was shot in the arm as he shielded the boy. In a message on Facebook he later said: “I am doing well and thank all the people who helped us.

“The ambulance drivers, the nurses, the doctors, the lovely nanny with me and the very, very, very brave young boy with her.”

Kenya has pledged to increase operations against al-Shabbab.

Security in Britain has also been heightened, as has an international hunt for Samantha Lewthwaite, 29, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Dubbed “the White Widow”, she has been linked to al-Shabbab and is wanted by Interpol for terrorist activity across Africa. The soldier’s daughter was married to 7/7 suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay, 19. After his death she left Britain and moved to South Africa before ending up in Kenya.

Witnesses to the attack in Nairobi said a “pale-skinned woman” directed attackers and shot victims.