[8:59]

Apparently a explosion has gone off near Ambassadeur hotel in Nairobi. No news as yet on the casualties. There are a lot of rumours going on now that it is

• A bomb
• A suicide bomber
• A gas cylinder

Other than the explosion itself, nothing has been confirmed, so resist the urge to spread rumours!!!

Of course the news scared the crap after me seeing as I had just give my brother a lift and dropped him off in town but mercifully he’s OK.

[9:08]

It seems there has been at least one fatal casualty

[9:24]

The injured are currently about 10. The entire area has been cordoned off. Rumours that it was a bomb or a suicide bomber are getting stronger and stronger but still there is no confirmation.

More as it develops…

[11:13]

Additional information indicate police on the scene say the explosion could have been caused by a suicide bomber. Again, “could have“. This is not a conformation. We await a comprehensive official statement from the Police themselves to confirm anything. Until then I urge everyone, and in particular bloggers to resist the temptation to spread juicy sounding, scary rumours that may have grave repercussions if they turn out to be unfounded. Until we have established for a fact that it was a suicide bomber, let us not treat the innuendo and rumours as fact.

Now is the time for prudence and responsibility to rule, not gossip and sensationalism.

[12:20]

the Ministry of Health has set up emergency blood donation centers at the Reinsurance Plaza grounds (opposite Uchumi House/ Nairobi cinema) and the Cooperative House (the former US Embassy/ bomb blast site).

Images

The site

A victim (deliberately blurred)

All credit to the person who took the photos. Don’t know the exact source (not me)

[6:40]

An official statement from the Police has been released. Read it HERE. An important section reads as follows:

A public service commuter bus which was at the scene had its windscreen shattered and has been driven off to the police yard for further investigations. No traces of combustion or high explosives were detected at the scene.

More Information

Reuters Alert Net

Nation (currently down)

East African Standard

Al Jazeera

Office Of The Government Spokesman Initial Statement

BBC

CNN

Police & Government Official Statement