Manmohan Singh condemns terror attack in Nairobi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today wrote to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, condemning the terror attack in Nairobi in which two Indians were among those killed and said a concerted global effort is required to control such mindless violence.

He directed the External Affairs Ministry to extend all help to Indian nationals who were victims of the attack at a mall in the Kenyan capital.

"The Prime Minister has sent a letter of condolence to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta condemning the attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi," the PMO said here.

In his letter, Singh said "concerted global effort is required to control such mindless violence."

Two Indians, including an eight-year-old child, have died in the attack and four others have been injured.

The dead Indians have been identified as 40-year-old Sridhar Natarajan, employee of a local pharmaceutical firm and Master Paramshu Jain, son of a Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda (Kenya Limited).

The injured Indians are Sridhar Natarajan's wife Manjula Sridhar, Paramshu Jain's mother Mukta Jain and 12-year-old Poorvi Jain and Natarajan Ramachandran, an employee of Flamingo Duty Free, Nairobi.

About 10 to 15 masked gunmen yesterday stormed the packed shopping mall, asked Muslims to leave and opened indiscrimate firing.

Somalia's Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in direct retaliation for Kenya's military intervention in Somalia, where African Union troops are battling the Islamists.