"Terror at the Mall" Documentary on HBO

Mainah · September 23, 2014, 05:19 PM

Just saw this film, it's about the attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Well worth watching. To recap; four terrorists armed with full-auto AKs and grenades executed a well planned attack on a mall just over a year ago. They held the mall for 49 hours and killed at least 67 people.

The film uses security camera footage, cell phone footage, news footage, and compelling interviews with survivors to describe the events. What really struck me was that the first group that had the courage to enter the mall and confront the terrorists consisted of four plain clothed police officers and two civilians who carried licensed side arms. They saved several lives while dozens of military and police officers stood frozen outside in fear and disorganization.

It is difficult to watch at times, but also a very real world look into a tactical nightmare.

Mosin-Marauder · September 23, 2014, 05:39 PM

Might have to give it a watch. Maybe.

**Aguila Blanca** · September 23, 2014, 07:17 PM

Bah. Fiction.

Could not possibly have happened. Westgate malls are posted -- no guns allowed. This event obviously could not have taken place.

Evan Thomas · September 23, 2014, 07:54 PM

Is there something gun-related here that folks want to discuss? Otherwise, this isn't really for us...

Mainah · September 23, 2014, 08:05 PM

The film is basically a long, drawn out gunfight that was caught on film. I thought it might be of interest here. Sorry if I was wrong.

Glenn E. Meyer · September 26, 2014, 12:41 PM

I recorded it. I think it is of interest - but I'd better watch it.

Slamfire · September 26, 2014, 01:12 PM

The US Malls I have been in, they would be lucky to find 67 people in the mall. Plenty of parking near the entrances.

Another good reason Malls ought to allow concealed carry. To save the manikins from extreme danger and harm.

Mainah · September 26, 2014, 06:38 PM

I've been to a mall in Nairobi, not Westgate. And I got lulled into what I now know to be a false sense of security because the mall was gated and guarded by men in uniform carrying rifles. Watch the movie if you can, it really is a study in what could happen here.

mfreem08 · September 26, 2014, 08:47 PM

I just finished watching it. Something that was very strange was that the terrorist were killing women & children but then out the blue they would allow a woman to leave with her kids. Then they would continue killing. It definitely caused me to think about my surroundings & potential exit strategies. I do carry but 7 rounds in a subcompact wouldn't stand a chance against 4 AKs. I would like to think that local police or gaurdsmen/military here would take charge much faster than 3-4 hours later. To the OP, yes I believe the true heroes were the first group of plain clothes officers & 2 civilians.

TXAZ · September 27, 2014, 03:01 PM

Just watched it. Clearly good guys with guns could have made a difference.

kilimanjaro · September 28, 2014, 10:26 AM

Mfreem08, the people released by the terrorists may have been Muslims, some survivors told of that happening.

tekarra · September 28, 2014, 04:47 PM

Could not possibly have happened. Westgate malls are posted -- no guns allowed. This event obviously could not have taken place.
A

I do not know if this was written facetiously, but I have never seen firearms signs in shop windows in East Africa.

September 23, 2014, 05:19 PM	#1
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	"Terror at the Mall" Documentary on HBO Just saw this film, it's about the attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Well worth watching. To recap; four terrorists armed with full-auto AKs and grenades executed a well planned attack on a mall just over a year ago. They held the mall for 49 hours and killed at least 67 people. The film uses security camera footage, cell phone footage, news footage, and compelling interviews with survivors to describe the events. What really struck me was that the first group that had the courage to enter the mall and confront the terrorists consisted of four plain clothed police officers and two civilians who carried licensed side arms. They saved several lives while dozens of military and police officers stood frozen outside in fear and disorganization. It is difficult to watch at times, but also a very real world look into a tactical nightmare.

September 23, 2014, 05:39 PM	#2
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Might have to give it a watch. Maybe. __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

September 23, 2014, 07:54 PM	#4
Evan Thomas Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 5,631	Is there something gun-related here that folks want to discuss? Otherwise, this isn't really for us... __________________ Never let anything mechanical know you're in a hurry.

September 26, 2014, 12:41 PM	#6
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	I recorded it. I think it is of interest - but I'd better watch it. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

September 26, 2014, 01:12 PM	#7
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	The US Malls I have been in, they would be lucky to find 67 people in the mall. Plenty of parking near the entrances. Another good reason Malls ought to allow concealed carry. To save the manikins from extreme danger and harm. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

September 23, 2014, 07:17 PM	#3
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	Bah. Fiction. Could not possibly have happened. Westgate malls are posted -- no guns allowed. This event obviously could not have taken place.

September 23, 2014, 08:05 PM	#5
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	The film is basically a long, drawn out gunfight that was caught on film. I thought it might be of interest here. Sorry if I was wrong.

September 26, 2014, 06:38 PM	#8
Mainah Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2007 Posts: 1,119	I've been to a mall in Nairobi, not Westgate. And I got lulled into what I now know to be a false sense of security because the mall was gated and guarded by men in uniform carrying rifles. Watch the movie if you can, it really is a study in what could happen here.

September 26, 2014, 08:47 PM	#9
mfreem08 Member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Posts: 55	I just finished watching it. Something that was very strange was that the terrorist were killing women & children but then out the blue they would allow a woman to leave with her kids. Then they would continue killing. It definitely caused me to think about my surroundings & potential exit strategies. I do carry but 7 rounds in a subcompact wouldn't stand a chance against 4 AKs. I would like to think that local police or gaurdsmen/military here would take charge much faster than 3-4 hours later. To the OP, yes I believe the true heroes were the first group of plain clothes officers & 2 civilians.

September 27, 2014, 03:01 PM	#10
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Just watched it. Clearly good guys with guns could have made a difference. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

September 28, 2014, 10:26 AM	#11
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Mfreem08, the people released by the terrorists may have been Muslims, some survivors told of that happening.

September 28, 2014, 04:47 PM	#12
tekarra Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2007 Posts: 1,164	Could not possibly have happened. Westgate malls are posted -- no guns allowed. This event obviously could not have taken place. A I do not know if this was written facetiously, but I have never seen firearms signs in shop windows in East Africa. Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; October 1, 2014 at 10:51 AM. Reason: bad pasting - GEM