Hotel attack hero in line for George Cross
Nairobi police looking for leaders of massacre where off-duty SAS soldier saved dozens of civilians’ lives
‘This man has shown remarkable bravery. You can fully expect him to receive one of the highest gallantry awards’
AN SAS soldier who saved “dozens of lives” in the Nairobi hotel massacre is in line to receive the George Cross for his “remarkable bravery”.
The trooper was off duty when he dashed to the scene of intense fighting after Islamist terrorists laid siege to the five-star Dusitd2 hotel. At least 21 people were killed in a drawn-out assault.
A well-placed source said the SAS man, understood to be a senior noncommissioned officer, would be recommended for one of the highest medals for gallantry, most likely the George Cross. Only the Victoria Cross is more prestigious.
Just two George Medals, the civilian equivalent of the George Cross, were awarded last year. The last George Cross was handed out in June 2017 to Dominic Troulan after the Westgate mall terrorist attack, also in Nairobi.
The identity of the SAS soldier is being kept secret, in line with Ministry of Defence protocol not to name members of the Special Forces.
The senior military source said: “This man has shown remarkable bravery. He has saved dozens of lives. You can fully expect him to receive one of the highest gallantry awards and most likely the George Cross. It will be given to him secretly.”
There are fears that the soldier’s actions may have compromised his security because photographs and videos of him pulling civilians to safety have been published and broadcast around the world. He wore a balaclava as he fought the al-shabaab terrorists.
Police in Kenya said they arrested 11 people yesterday, including the wife and mother of one of the jihadists, as they launched a manhunt for the mastermind behind the attack.
Investigators said they had been able to identify one of the five gunmen involved in the assault through a mobile telephone found on his corpse.
They named him as Ali Salim Gichunge. Police said they had detained his wife, Violet, after discovering that she had posted an advertisement on Facebook attempting to sell many of their household goods the day before Tuesday’s attack.
“We are moving out of Nairobi this week so it is a quick sale,” she wrote.