Blasts, heavy gunfire at Kenya shopping mall siege [pics]

Explosions and heavy gunfire heard at Nairobi mall. Police say they are intensifying operations to "end this cruel act."

— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) September 23, 2013

Several blasts, gunfire heard at Kenya mall siege, smoke seen rising from the area; @Reuters http://t.co/0oP7moIklI

— Laura Walker (@LauraWalkerKC) September 23, 2013

Several blasts, gunfire heard at Kenya mall siege, smoke seen rising from the area; TV shows troops running in area of the mall – @Reuters

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) September 23, 2013

Kenya's KTN: Up to 20 explosions heard at Nairobi mall, thick black smoke seen

— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) September 23, 2013

"@dailynation: Medical staff + reporters flee #Westgate triage centre after rumours of explosives pic.twitter.com/uucc7Shmbi"

— Mike Pflanz (@MikePflanz) September 23, 2013

Smoke pouring from Nairobi's #Westgate Mall, minutes after large explosion. & gunfire. # Kenya. pic.twitter.com/NbwAzuM7vR

— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) September 23, 2013

Several loud explosions heard at the mall siege in Kenya. Image from Kenyan state TV or black smoke. pic.twitter.com/uVkwYln1fD

— Justin Karp (@jskarp) September 23, 2013

BREAKING: Multiple large explosions at #Kenya #Westgate mall http://t.co/DtV7EqD36u pic.twitter.com/v9YYTZ8eeX #Nairobi

— RT (@RT_com) September 23, 2013

#Westgate explosion appears to have started major fire pic.twitter.com/8ZUJbKtsqQ

— Mike Pflanz (@MikePflanz) September 23, 2013

Thick black smoke billows above the #Westgate mall http://t.co/kxDvqnYyvu #WestgateAttack pic.twitter.com/bD7x1MsgNn Kenya you need to pray

— Caroline Kibii (@Ckibii) September 23, 2013