SAS hero fought off jihadis in Kenya raid
A BRITISH SAS soldier battled with Islamist militants and helped to rescue victims in the Kenyan terror attack, it emerged yesterday.
Images showed a heavily armed man, believed to be the lone SAS trooper, with a military vest and balaclava working alongside US Navy Seals and local forces.
A source said: “UK Special Forces always run towards the sound of gunfire. He was there training and mentoring Kenyan forces when the shout went up, so they went in.
“During the operation he fired off some rounds – it’s a safe bet he hit his target – the SAS don’t miss.
“He is a long-serving member of the regiment, there is no doubt his actions saved lives.”
A British victim of Tuesday’s attack, when jihadis stormed a fivestar hotel in Nairobi, killing 21 people during a 20-hour siege, was last night named as father-of-one Luke Potter.
Mr Potter, 40, who is understood to have recently moved from London to Nairobi, had been working for development charity Gatsby.
Detonated
Another British citizen was wounded during the attack, which began when a terrorist detonated a suicide vest in the hotel lobby before gunmen opened fire inside the luxury Dusit D2 hotel.
The dead included one policeman, police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet said in a televised address.
Sixteen of the dead were Kenyan, he said, as well as a British man, an American man, and three people of African origin whose nationality was uncertain.
Two suspects had also been arrested for helping the attackers, he said.
Mr Potter’s employers said in a statement last night: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to confirm that Luke Potter, our Africa programmes director, was killed in the recent security incident in Nairobi.
“Luke had devoted the past 10 years of his career to helping some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.
“He had worked with us for three and a half years, carrying out assignments across East Africa.
“Luke was instrumental in establishing our forestry programme and team in Kenya and provided crucial leadership, guidance and support to our Tanzanian forestry programme and our tea programmes in Rwanda and Tanzania.
“Luke was respected by all he worked with, bringing huge drive, determination, a relentless work ethic and a thirst for new ideas to every project. He brought a calm head and his unique sense of humour to every situation.”
An American who survived the 9/11 attack, Jason Spindler, was also killed in the attack.
His brother Jonathan wrote on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that my brother Jason Spindler passed away this morning during a terror attack in Nairobi. Jason was a survivor of 9/11 and a fighter. I am sure he gave them hell.”